Visiting the Audemars Piguet Manufacture

visiting_le_brassus_audemars_piguet

Straight from sunny Florence I flew to back to snowy Switzerland to visit the manufacture of Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux. Being the oldest fine watchmaker that is still in the hands of its founding families (Audemars and Piguet), I had the chance to indulge in the brand’s history and to explore the craftsmanship first hand.

sandra_bauknecht_audemars_piguet_manufacture_visitWearing a work coat and shoe covers for protection at the manufacture.

img_4949The modern part of the manufacture.

Since 1875, the company has written some of the finest chapters in the history of Haute Horlogerie, including a number of world firsts. At the heart of the Swiss Jura, numerous masterpieces are created in limited series embodying a remarkable degree of horological perfection, including daring sporty models, classic and traditional timepieces, splendid ladies’ jewellery-watches, as well as one-of-a-kind creations.

worker_audemars_piguet

I was deeply impressed seeing the precision that goes into the assemblage of the 3120 movement that comes also with my favorite watch, the Royal Oak Frosted Gold  – 37 mm .

sandra_bauknecht_audemars_piguet_manufacture

audemars_piguet_manufacture-4

sandra_bauknecht_audemars_piguet_manufacture_visit-2

audemars_manufacture_2

img_4951The entrance to the museum.

Over the years, Audemars Piguet has collected vintage models that are beautifully presented in the in-house museum that is only open to private tours.

audemars_manufacture_5

audemars_piguet_manufacture_11audemars_piguet_22An impressive family history

museum_manufacture-audemars_piguet

montre_musique_audemars_piguetMusical watch, around 1840, Piguet & Meyland

audemars_piguet_museum_11

audemars_repetition-minuteRepetition Minutes, 1875, Louis Audemars

audemars_piguet_visit_lebrassus

royal_oak_audemars_piguetThe first Royal Oak was designed by Gérald Genta in 1972.

dates_audemars_piguetUntil today, all information on sold watches are written down by hand. In the ’30s, customers included Bulgari, Van Cleef and Bucherer.

audemars_piguet_diamond_watch

jewellery_audemars_piguet

audemars_piguet

old_designs_audemars_piguet

couture_pieces_audemars_piguet

At the moment, Audemars Piguet is building a new museum in Le Brassus designed by Danish architectural firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group). Incorporating the existing building, the new form of a hairspring will showcase the history of the oldest, family owned watchmaker (see below).

LoL, Sandra

audemars-piguet-museum-big71

Collage and last photo: Courtesy of Audemars Piguet, all other photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

SIHH 2013: IWC’s Pole Position

IWC_SIHH2013_Ingenieur_Cover

This week, I went to Geneva for the 23rd Salon International de la Haute HorlogerieSIHH 2013. Of course, my first stop had to be the IWC Schaffhausen booth that had been once more the most impressive one seen at the famous watch fair. Do you remember the amazing Italian ’50s/’60s theme for the Portofino watches in 2011 or the aircraft carrier for the Pilot watches in 2012?

IWC_SIHH2013-3

Speaking of IWC Schaffhausen, you are talking superlatives which is entirely in keeping with the creative spirit that reigns at the Swiss watchmaking company. After the amazing launches and events of the last years, I had been pretty curious if this could be topped. And yes, they did it! As director Marc Forster said, “arriving at the IWC booth feels like arriving at a film set”. And this time, I arrived at a race track. The booth was filled not only with the most exquisite watches, but with the most stunning race cars you can imagine.

SIHH2013_IWC

IWC_SIHH2013-Booth

IWC_SIHH2013_Ingenieur_Watches

So ladies and gentlem, start your engines. In 2013, IWC Schaffhausen embarks on the Formula One season as the Official Engineering Partner of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team and relaunches the Ingenieur family that appears in a new, modern and very impressive light.

Georges_Kern_SIHH2013_IWC

Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, puts his finger on it when he says: “Three outstanding quality features set the new Ingenieur collection apart: top-quality IWC movements, sophisticated functions and innovative materials.”

Genta_IWC_SIHH2013

The story of the Ingenieur is strongly connected to the rapid progress made during the 1950s when technological progress dramatically increased the presence of magnetic fields. The Ingenieur, a pure and simple man’s watch, became famous as the antimagnetic watch of that time. When in 1976, IWC Schaffhausen unveiled the “Ingenieur SL” designed by Gérald Genta (above on display at the booth), an icon was born.

IWC_SIHH2013_Ingenieur

In 2013, the Ingenieur has become the perfect watch for the racetrack as the set-up of a Formula One™ racing car and the assembly of a high-precision timepiece, both exemplify the art of engineering at the highest-possible level. Materials used in motorsport, such as carbon fibre, ceramics and titanium, are the hallmarks of the new design line.

IWC_SIHH2013_6

IWC_SIHH2013_Ingenieur_3

My favourite model: The Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance (Ref. 3224) features a rubber strap with a textile inlay, which is stitched with signal-yellow or red thread.

IWC_SIHH2013_Watches_Sandra_Bauknecht

Personally speaking, it’s one thing to look at those photos and read all about those new must-have timepieces, but it’s quite another to strap them on your wrist and examine them up close. The new Ingenieur watches will surely be a hit for IWC, so better race to the next IWC dealer and get your hands on them. The pole position will be all yours, at least style-wise.

SIHH2013_IWC_Ingenieur_Back

What a beauty: The Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (Ref. 3792) features a perpetual calendar together with a digital date display and leap year indicator.

Have fun exploring whom I spotted at the booth and stay tuned for more photos coming up, especially from the amazing IWC Race Night with top celebrities from all over the world.

LoL, Sandra

SIHH2013_IWC_Sandra_Bauknecht_Michela_Cerruti_Formula1

Michela Cerruti, daughter of Aldo Cerruti, an Italian racing driver that might be soon spotted driving the Formula One tracks.

IWC_SIHH_Jens_Lehmann

German soccer goalkeeper Jens Lehmann

IWC_Booth_Kretschmann

German actor Thomas Kretschmann

SIHH2013_IWC_Sandra_Bauknecht_Zinédine_Zidane

Former French soccer player Zinédine Zidane with me

Ralf_Moeller_SIHH2013_IWC

Actor Ralf Moeller

IWC_SIHH2013_Jean_Reno_Zidane_Ralf_Moeller

From left to right: Zinédine Zidane, Ralf Moeller and Jean Reno

Boris_Becker_Sandra_bauknecht_SIHH2013_IWC

Boris Becker with me

SIHH2013_IWC_Booth_5

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Photos of 2nd collage: Courtesy of IWC