John Mayer Perpetual Calendar Watch’s blue-based irregular crystal dial adds brilliance – 20240320 – Supplement – Daily Ming Pao

The most eye-catching of Audemars Piguet’s new watches this year is the Royal Oak series limited edition perpetual calendar watch launched in partnership with watch collector and 7-time Grammy Award winner John Mayer. John Mayer is an acclaimed songwriter and guitarist who has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and amassed billions of streams. In addition to being a musician, he is also a watch collector. The watch he designed this time is the last Royal Oak series perpetual calendar watch equipped with AP self-winding 5134 movement.

Small details are unique

This 18K white gold watch, limited to 200 pieces, features a dark blue dial. The relief pattern on the dial is composed of irregular shapes similar to crystals. Its sharp angles and facets add depth and brilliance. The intricately detailed dial is made from a stamping die and electroplated metal deposition technology. The small dial at 9 o’clock displays the day of the week, the 12 o’clock position displays the month and leap year, and the 3 o’clock position displays the date. To increase visual contrast, the calendar indications are printed in white on the blue outer ring of the subdials, while the day of the week is printed on the blue outer ring of the dial. The date number “31” on the brand’s perpetual calendar models is usually red, but this design is changed to white; the weekly calendar hands are also changed to light blue, echoing the dial tone but still easy to read. The laser micro-engraved moon phase indicator at 6 o’clock is set on an aventurine background. For the first time, the word “Swiss Made” is printed in white on the bottom of the moon phase disk instead of on the outer edge of the dial, which is also a unique detail of this model.

Large and small plaid dial

New works with the same blue as the main tone include a new 37 mm 18K white gold case and bracelet version of the Royal Oak series self-winding flying tourbillon ultra-thin watch (RD#3), which is inspired by the 2022 Series 50 Anniversary version in stainless steel. The deep smoky blue Petite Tapisserie dial is decorated with baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel. The watch is equipped with the brand’s 2968 ultra-thin self-winding movement, which is only 3.4 mm thick, and the thickness of the case is 8.1 mm. As for the 43mm Royal Oak Offshore self-winding watch, it has a blue rubber-coated bezel and a stainless steel case. The smoked blue Méga Tapisserie oversized checkered dial and blue rubber strap continue the color theme. This new work is equipped with caliber 4302, which has hours, minutes, seconds and date display functions. Most of the watches in the Royal Oak Offshore series are equipped with a chronograph function. This watch is quite special because it is not designed with a chronograph function.

18K alluvial gold newly launched

In addition to the popular blue, the brand is also trying to develop a new material this year: 18K alluvial gold. Alluvial gold is an alloy of gold, copper and palladium. It emits a color between white gold and rose gold as the light and angle change, just like the warm tones of the desert under the sun, so it is named “alluvial gold”. The first use of this precious metal is the Royal Oak series hollow flying tourbillon self-winding watch, which is equipped with the 2972 ​​movement and replaced with a sand-gold tone hollow splint and main board specially developed for the new watch, creating a unique 3D effect.

Friends who like gold watches should be attracted by the Royal Oak series frost gold watches. “Frosted gold” is an ancient craft inherited from Florence. It has been reinterpreted by Italian jewelry designer Carolina Bucci. The 18K gold watch case and bracelet are decorated with hammered gold craftsmanship, shining with a dreamy light like frost flowers. , hence the name Frost Gold. Among them, the 37mm Royal Oak series frost gold automatic watch is equipped with a smoked gold sunburst dial. The sharp contrast enhances the three-dimensional sense of the watch. It is equipped with a 5900 movement and is suitable for collectors who like small watch diameters. As for the 41 mm self-winding chronograph model, it is equipped with the 4401 movement with flyback chronograph function. The dial is decorated with a large golden Grande Tapisserie pattern, which also presents a smoky gradient effect.

Code 11.59 Series 5th Anniversary

Besides Royal Oak, how can we miss the Code 11.59 series? In the blink of an eye, Code 11.59 has celebrated its 5th anniversary. The brand has specially launched 7 new rose gold models, each with a diameter of 38 mm and 41 mm, and matched with the series’ ripple pattern dial. Craftsmen use a stamping die that has been carefully carved by hand to emboss a concentric circle pattern on the dial, which ripples outward from the center of the dial. The concave points cleverly refract light, giving it a sparkling feel, and then use PVD coating or electroplating technology to color it. The 38mm version is a three-hand model with a date display, using light blue and “Cloud Night Blue 50” colors respectively; the 41mm version includes 2 automatic winding watches and 3 automatic winding chronographs, green and “Cloud Night Blue 50”. The “Night Blue 50” colors are available in automatic winding and automatic winding chronograph models. There is also a model with black as the main tone. The middle layer of the black ceramic octagonal case is embedded in the 18K rose gold case and matched with a black ceramic crown to create a Eye-catching visual contrast. ●

Inquiries: 2871 0008

Text: Zhang Xiaodong

Editor: Chen Shuan

Art: Xie Weihao

facebook @mingpaosupplement

Email: [email protected]

[Watchout]