Openworking — also known as skeletonisation — involves cutting away material to reveal the mechanical artistry contained within. It is among the most exacting performances in watchmaking: cutting too much can jeopardize tolerances or affect shock resistance. Achieving the right balance between the beauty of the revealed components and the safeguarding of their performance’s precision is a rare art.
Audemars Piguet has been a master of this intricate process since the 1930s. Today, it performs it in precisely the same manner: filing, decoration and finishing exclusively done by hand. The reasons for this are both aesthetic and technical. For example, a milling machine produces perfectly acceptable rounded angles, but it cannot produce the perfect interior angles (or v-cut angles) that so superlatively reflect light, expressing the artistry of Haute Horlogerie.
Introduced in 2012, the original Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin marked the Royal Oak’s 40th anniversary and was originally available only in platinum, followed by the launch of a yellow gold version in 2016.
Demand from connoisseurs around the world has led to the creation of two new limited edition versions in 2017 – one in brushed 18-carat pink gold with matching bracelet, the other in stainless steel. Just like their platinum and yellow gold predecessors, each model features the mesmerizing Audemars Piguet in-house caliber 2924 hand-wound skeleton movement, comprising 216 components – but in two very different finishes. The pink gold model (available in 50 examples) features a pink gold mainplate and bridges, while the movement of the steel version (available in 100 examples) is rhodium plated in cool, understated tones.
Audemars Piguet was considered by the leading watch aficionados for a part of this sacred trinity of watchmakers since 1875. Standing beside Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet is among the most renowned watchmakers on earth. Within this article, were going to go over the brand, its own history, milestones, as well as the watches you need to consider as a component of your collection.
The company itself started when 23-year-old Jules-Louis Audemars asked his 21-year-old friend Edward-Auguste Piguet to create a movement to get a watch. He did just that and despite their tender ages, they had instant success. They quickly became called top watchmakers in the region who not only collaborated with additional watchmakers to generate complicated movements, but competed against themselves to outdo their previous achievements. Both men grew up surrounded by watches. The two families both spent years creating watches in the area and so despite being young, they had apprenticed as children under their dads, which developed their own immense talent for watchmaking.
Both knew their abilities and limitations. Audemars designed and made the motion, and Piguet made sure that they were functional and accurate, putting finishing touches on it as needed. Shortly, they further developed their functions. Since the finisher should understand how to assemble and create a movement, Piguet took over all creation and Audemars managed the business side, focusing on sales and management.They amassed a reputation for producing the finest timepieces in the region almost immediately and their ages made their achievement that much more amazing to their admirers.
