Audemars Piguet keeps their collectors and brand’s friends busy this autumn with several releases and news. We just covered recently the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore and we brought the news about the spectacular Royal Oak Frosted Gold LE. Our Editor in Chief interviewed Jonathan King, Chief Executive Officer for Southeast Asia, regarding Audemars Piguet plans for the next years and an insight of the watchmaking industry. We are thrilled to present you today the pre-SIHH release of the new line of ladies Millenary.
All the good things come in a number of three
The last Millenary ladies’ collection was launched in 2015. But this line of timepieces was created in 1995 as marvellous contemporary design exhibiting an impressive layered design. The novelty was the inside out construction, back to front with a clear view of the watch’s beating heart.
The 2018 Millenary Collection was unveiled during the Dubai Watch Week. There are three variations available covering, in our humble opinion, the most exigent requests. The new “second-skin” metal bracelets enrich the white and pink gold cases launched at the 2015’s release. The Millenary case remained unchanged, keeping the line faithful to the design.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Ref. 77244OR.GG.A034CA.01 comes with an outstanding opal dial.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Reference 77247OR.ZZ.1272OR.01
The Millenary, now traditional, oval case comes adorned with diamond-set bezel and lugs. This brings a powerful luxurious glare. The case has a delightful gold crown set with a pink sapphire cabochon, surrounded by the case’s brushed sides. Furthermore, the pink gold bracelet suits perfectly the design. The Milanese bracelet, a big hit in the fashion of the 50s and 60s, comes in the Polish finishing and it offers an increased wrist comfort.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Ref. 77247OR.ZZ.1272OR.01 has a diamond-set bezel and lugs. The watch Polish pink gold bracelet is individually handmade.
The Polish bracelets are individually handmade by rolling-up a thread around an axis, directed to the right and then to the left, having as result a regular alternation. This process is much more complicated as the traditional Milanese bracelet, where the wires are threated in the same direction. The complicated process has, in the end, a beautiful result, increasing the beauty of the metal strap and the artistic value.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Ref. 77247OR.ZZ.1272OR.01 is a spectacular timepiece with superb finishes
The Ref. 77247OR.ZZ.1272OR.01 comes with a white mother-of-pearl off-centred dial decorated with the irregular sized powdery gold-toned Roman numerals and gold leaf hands.
The small seconds’ sub-dial bites generously form the main dial. It is decorated, as the main dial, with a pink gold outer ring, creating a pleasant contrast with the visible movement.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Reference 77247BC.ZZ.1272BC.01
The 18k white gold version of the Millenary is identical in every aspect with the pink gold diamond-set watch, aside from the metal colour, of course. The pink sapphire cabochon is easier to notice on the white gold crown, with a bit more spectacular effect.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Ref. 77247BC.ZZ.1272BC.01 comes in white gold. The pink gold elements brings a warm touch to the entire look.
On the dial side, the white mother-of-pearl main and sub-dial feature the same pink gold decoration. Again, the contrast of dial on the exposed movement is pleasant and brings the technicality pleasure to the light. This back to front visible construction captivate, in an equal manner, the finishes lovers either experts or profanes.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Ref. 77247BC.ZZ.1272BC.01 has a pink sapphire set in the crown that looks amazing on the white gold background.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Reference 77244OR.GG.A034CA.01
A new, interesting finish can be found on the Millenary Ref. 77244OR.GG.A034CA.01. This is a special piece with a fantastically hammered and satin finish. The frost finish can be compared with the one from the latest Royal Oak. The case decoration is exquisite and fits perfectly the beautiful design of the Millenary. The special finish has been created in collaboration with the Carolina Bucci, a renown jewellery designer from Florence, Italy. The crown is fitted with a translucent sapphire cabochon.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Ref. 77244OR.GG.A034CA.01 has an exemplary executed hammered. This finish is obtained using a diamond tipped pneumatic tool vibrating at 200Hz (12,000 beats/minute).
The dial is set with white opal for both off-centred disk and small second counter with 0.85 carats and, respectively 0.10 carats. The view of the dial is out of this world: the light is playful with the dial’s surface bringing rainbows for the viewer.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Ref. 77244OR.GG.A034CA.01 is fitted with a distinguished opal dial that offers a spectacular view in the light.
The Ref. 77244OR.GG.A034CA.01 is fitted with hammered blue rubber strap with 18-carat pink gold pin buckle. Additional alligator straps in light blue and black or rubber straps are available.
Audemars Piguet Calibre 5201
We appreciate the effort Audemars Piguet invested for the creation of the oval-shaped movement 5201, a 28.59mm x 32.74mm hand wound calibre with 157 parts, from which 19 jewels. The Calibre 5201 has a balance wheel oscillating with 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz), offering a power reserve of 49 hours.
The way the Le Brassus maison choose to decorate their new Millenary does honour the true value of haute horlogerie. The skeletonised main plate is dressed up on the back with a fine perlage and on the front with an excellent executed Côtes de Genève. The golden balance bridges make a warm contrast with the rest of the movement. The entire look is balanced and offers, beyond distinguished finishes, a technical perspective rarely found on a lady watch.
Audemars Piguet Calibre 5201 is a well-decorated movement that can be admired on the bottom but also on the top.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Collection Specification
The Millenary lady collection is powered by the AP Calibre 5201.
Movement
Calibre: 5201
Type: Self-winding movement
Dimensions: 28.59 x 32.74 mm (12 ¾ x 14 ½ lignes)
Jewels: 19
Power reserve: 49 hours
Frequency: 3Hz / 21’600 vph
Functions: Hours, minutes and small seconds
Audemars Piguet Millenary Reference 77247OR.ZZ.1272OR.01
Case
Material: 18-carat pink gold case diamond-set bezel and lugs
Crystal: Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Crown: 18k gold with a pink sapphire cabochon
Caseback: Glare-proofed sapphire case back
Strap
Material: 18-carat pink gold bracelet
Buckle: 18-carat folding clasp
Audemars Piguet Millenary Reference 77247BC.ZZ.1272BC.01
Case
Material: 18-carat white gold case diamond-set bezel and lugs
Crystal: Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Crown: 18k gold with a pink sapphire cabochon
Caseback: Glare-proofed sapphire case back
Strap
Material: 18-carat white gold bracelet
Buckle: 18-carat folding clasp
Audemars Piguet Millenary Reference 77244OR.GG.A034CA.01
Case
Material: 18-carat pink gold case hammered and satin-finished bezel and lugs
Crystal: Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Crown: 18k gold with a translucent sapphire cabochon
Caseback: Glare-proofed sapphire case back
Strap
Material: Hammered blue rubber strap (additional alligator straps in light blue and black; rubber straps)
Buckle: 18-carat folding clasp
