Louis Audemars pocket watch circa 1880 featuring minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and chronograph

Heartbeat: 1880 Louis Audemars Minute Repeater, Perpetual Calendar, And Chronograph

At a preview before a Christie’s watch auction in Geneva, I found myself particularly attracted to this impeccable Louis Audemars pocket watch. It features a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, chronograph, and moon phase function, and is from circa 1880. It is 135 years old and doesn’t show a single wrinkle!

Parting shot: G.N. Papi No.1 pocket watch

Exclusive: The Giulio Papi No. 1 Pocket Watch

Sometimes persistence pays off. After a few well-placed questions, the shopkeeper brought out a relatively innocent looking skeletonized pocket watch. With a wry smile, he suggested that the buyer take a look at the tiny lug, leaving my friend flabbergasted. “G.N. Papi No.1” is a clear reference to Giulio Papi. The legendary watch industry figure who leads Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi and now my friend has stumbled across what could be his very first timepiece from 1984.

Cartier Tank with custom Camille Fournet strap

My Wife, The Watch Collector

For Quill & Pad’s themed “Ladies’ Week” in my role as resident collector, my thoughts turned immediately to that other collector in my life: my charming wife. MrsG is perhaps most enthusiastic about her collection of Southwestern Native American arts and jewelry, but let’s get started with a look at her interesting watches, which include excellent examples from Jaeger-LeCoultre, Blancpain, Alain Silberstein, Audemars Piguet, and more.

2002 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Watch

The 2002 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Watch Is One Of The First “Superwatches.” Plus Return Of Its Designer, Claude Emmenegger

When Audemars Piguet celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the Royal Oak in 2002, it did so by presenting its first concept watch, which was one of the first “superwatches” of the modern era. For a traditional brand like Audemars Piguet to come out with a wild watch like this was far more than just novel. It was downright audacious!

"Cat on a Clothesline" by Jeff Koons. Cute, but is it 10 million dollars of cuteness?

Baselworld Vs. Art Basel: A Look Between The 2015 Fairs

I have been involved in the watch world for 26 years; my first visit to Baselworld was in 1991. The massive fair halls have undergone two major reconstructive changes during this long period, in addition to several smaller updates. The last major reconstruction was finished in 2013. In no way, though, was I prepared for how the complex looks and feels when Art Basel is on compared to how I know it during the hustle and bustle of Baselworld.

The Audemars Piguet "Synchronicity" art installation by Robin Meier at Art Basel 2015

Art Basel 2015: Synchronicity And Resonance Characterize Audemars Piguet Installation With Robin Meier

“It’s a tent,” Audemars Piguet CEO François-Henry Bennahmias jokingly explained during Art Basel at the opening of Robin Meier’s installation “Synchronicity,” pointing to the large, soft structure barely discernible behind him in the dark room. It did indeed look like a tent. A tent encompassing the most unusual type of art installation I had ever seen. Welcome to the world of synchronous firefly flashes and grasshopper chirps in the name of art.

De Bethune DB25L Starry Sky on the wrist of Mo Coppoletta

The Collector’s View: Tattooist Mo Coppoletta On Watches

“Whether collecting art or watches, when I fall in love with something, then I need to understand, I need to research deeply,” Mo Coppeletta explains. “You may have taste, but if that isn’t backed up with knowledge then it is superficial.” Coppoletta was wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Skeleton. “It’s my summer watch,” he commented. What else does he own and how did he get into collecting watches?

Getting there: partially assembled Audemars Piguet Caliber 3090

You Are There: San Francisco Collector Master Class With Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet in collaboration with WENY (Watch Enthusiasts of New York) hosted an event in San Francisco that had it all: a watchmaking master class, in-depth talks with the brand’s historian while perusing a few vintage beauties, checking out some of the current collection, a whiskey tasting, and time spent with one of the brand’s ambassadors: the iconic golfer Nick Faldo.

Historic Audemars Piguet minute repeater

Audemars Piguet Minute Repeater Wristwatch Reference 5528 From 1885 Has Feminine Roots

Geneva was abuzz with activity just days before the first round of 2015 auctions took place in May. Once in a great while, interesting timepieces pop up at auction that would probably receive a lot more attention if the auction world wasn’t currently quite so fixated on Patek Philippe and Rolex. One such beauty is this historic minute repeater wristwatch by Audemars Piguet.

The first working prototype from the La Garde Temps project

Collectors Speak: Picks And Pans Of SIHH Week 2015

For the past five years, I’ve had the delightful experience of traveling to Switzerland with several friends to experience SIHH week, before finishing up with a Friday night dinner at which we review our impressions of the week by answering what watch we thought was best of show at SIHH; what was the worst watch; what current-production watch that we saw at any event during the week would we buy if money were no object; and what current-production watch did we see that we would buy with our own money?