For a gentleman who wants a luxury watch that is sophisticated and practical, the Audemars Piguet Tradition 15160PT.OO.A092CR.01 is just that. The simple design of the face makes it easy to tell time, while maintaining a dignified look. The internal workings are well designed, making the Audemars Piguet Tradition a refined timepiece.

External Features: Externally, the majestic silver dial with large pink gold Arabic numerals and hands makes it easy on the eye to read the time. Clearly marked with succinct pink gold dots, the minute markers match the color of the hands and numerals. The regal silver and gold colors come together with a platinum silver case making this timepiece a stylish masterpiece. The back of the case is transparent, giving you a look at the intriguing internal mechanisms.  A specially designed glare-proofed sapphire crystal glass covering protects the dial.  The brown hand-stitched “large square scale” crocodile band adds a charming touch to the décor accompanied with a sturdy 950 platinum AP folding clasp.

Internal Features: The Audemars Piguet Tradition features excellent workmanship. Waterproof up to 20 meters, you don’t have to worry about getting it wet. This wristwatch runs with bi-directional automatic movement with the weight oscillating 2.75 times per second. The annular ring running on four jewels ensures movement of the oscillating weight. Even the inside of this timepiece is upscale, as the support and weight segment are in 21-karat gold. Upon request, the oscillating weight can even be custom decorated. In addition, there is a forty-hour power reserve that will keep this timepiece ticking. Thirty six-jewels and a total of two-hundred-twelve parts ensure that this high quality watch is mechanically sound. The workmanship is finished manually with polished bevels, satin brushed edges, and Perlage on the recesses.

Alternative Models: The Audemars Piguet Tradition lives up to its name because it is very traditional in style. This watch has the basic minute and hour hand dial. If you like the workmanship of Audemar Piguet, but are looking for more additional features, you may want to check out the Tradition Perpetual Calendar 26051PT.OO.D092CR.01 or the Tradition Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeater 26052BC.OO.D092CR.01 which are similar in style. The Tradition Perpetual Calendar watch displays the day, the date, the month and leap years, as well as the moon phases. The Tradition Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeater is another alternative that has all the same features as the Perpetual Calendar watch with the addition of a small seconds display dial.

The Audemars Piguet Traditiona Perpetual Calendar is an alternative similar in style that includes calendar features. (Image from: wwww.audemarspiguet.com, retrieved January 27, 2012)

The downside of the Audemars Piguet Tradition is that it is expensive with the U.S. retail price at $65,200. However for the cultured and well-bred gentleman who can afford it, this watch has excellent internal features with a highly distinguished exterior.

Pros:

• Easy to read the time
• Transparent backing
• Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
• Unique crocodile band
• Water resistant up to 20m
• Custom decorated oscillating weight
• High quality workmanship

Cons:

• Expensive

In search of an unique designer time piece?  Look no further, the Audemars Piguet Millenary watch is one of a kind, ensuring you originality amongst your friends.

The great thing about this Audemars Piguet watch is that it is both classy and sporty, making it great for any occasion you could possibly think of.  The theme of this watch is certainly black.  The black stainless steel case has a very unique shape measuring at 45 millimeters in width and 40 millimeters in length, making it a great size sure to fit most men.  The thickness of this case measures at 8.9 millimeters.  The black dial is certainly the most eye catching part of this watch.  The dial contains a white second, minute and hour hand all pointing to white roman numeral hour indicators.  Around the hands and numbers is a hypnotic bar type pattern.  Over the dial is scratch resistant sapphire crystal to save you from any casual accidents that may happen.  The gorgeous black alligator strap accompanies the black theme of the watch.  To ensure that your watch will be secured to your wrist at all times, the band contains a deployment clasp.  A great feature of this watch is that it has a little date window by the hour three.  Another spectacular feature this watch has is that it can go as deep as 20 meters of water, making it great for a day at the lake or that big summer cruise you’ve been planning to take.  With its classy look, this watch is also great for those out of town business trips and long meetings.  You’re sure to be the envy of all of your friends when sporting this watch.  This time piece is very luxurious, retailing at $21,400.

If you’re a fan of this specific Audemars Piguet Millenary watch but not so into the all black theme, don’t worry.  The Millenary comes in several different variations.  A unique, colorful variation of this watch includes a brown strap, gold case and turquoise numerals and hands.  If you’re looking for something more eye catching, there is a variation of the Millenary watch available that contains baguette-cut diamonds all around the dial.

Pros

• Water resistant up to 20 meters
• Date window
• Scratch resistant sapphire crystal
• Unique shape
• Luxurious designer watch

If you are genuinely interested in purchasing this fancy time piece, it is best to do so through an authorized Audemars Piguet dealer.  Designer watches are one of the most counterfeited items on the internet, don’t fall victim to a scam.  Always make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth, especially on a luxurious watch like the Audemars Piguet Millenary watch.

When high design, sport, and luxury combine you are awarded with the specialized and complex series of watches from the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore line. Named in honor of the British Royal Navy’s line of ships with the same name, you know the attention to quality and detail is intended to be elite.

  26290IO.OO.A001VE.01 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix Chronograph Mens Watch

This watch is a limited series offering only 1,750. It is lightweight, 44mm x 56mm x 15.7 mm in size. It is self winding chronograph allowing you to view elapsed time in addition to showing conventional time. This iconic watch is rich in design. The forged carbon case and forged carbon and black ceramic bezel along with the blackend titanium crown offer a truly sophisticated watch but also solid enough to take the shocks and knocks of an active life.

A truly strong and sophisticated watch that adheres to quality and function. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix Chronograph mens watch is craftsmanship at its finest.

Front interior

By Debbie O’Brien

Audemars Piguet Headquarters in Switzerland

My Journey to the Audemar Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26300ST.OO.1110ST.06:

In my search for a new watch for my husband, I checked out the Audemars Piguet website.  So many choices!   But, before making such a significant purchase, I needed answers to questions. Questions like: who are these people, what choices are available,  how long have they been in business, what is their reputation, who even likes their product? As I studied their website, and the stainless steel Royal Oak Chronograph in particular, I knew my search was over.

When they opened their company in 1875, Jules Louis Audemars’ and Edward Auguste Piguet’s passion for creating and crafting fine time pieces was the cornerstone of their every endeavor. It is no different today. Each and every watch bearing the Audemars Piguet pedigree is built as if it will be the only watch to represent the company.

The ambassador program for Audemars Piguet mirrors this company’s never-ending quest for quality, competitive spirit, and hallmark recognition in their respective fields. Ambassadors are chosen from the art , sports, technology, community, and business worlds.

The Audemars Piguet Prestige Sports Collection redefines the word sports while encouraging a broader sense of the characteristics that define an athlete.

Royal Oak Chronograph, Model No. 26300ST.OO.1110ST.06

To name just a few of their ambassadors:

• Svetlana Zakharova, principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow
• Lebron James, two-time NBA MVP was signed on as a global ambassador
• Lionel Messi, FIFA professional and Olympic Gold Medal soccer player
• Sachin Tendulkar, right-handed batsman for the Mumbai Indians cricket team

The case and watch band are brushed, polished stainless steel, giving the watch a modern industrial appearance. The dial (or face) is a complementing metallic color with a design reminiscent of a man-hole cover! Three sub-dials are black with matching rims and white hands which point to black numbers on a silver background for quick and easy reading. The date window is white with black numbers located just above the five o’clock position on the dial.

Here are a just few of the endearing qualities of Audemar Piguet’s Royal Oak Chronograph 26300ST.OO.1110ST.06s:

• Hour marks match the minutes and hours hands
• White sub-dial hands against a black background
• The seconds hand is a contrasting red
• The hand on the seconds sub-dial is white with a red tip
• The chronograph function has a 12 hour capacity w/30 minute counter
• The movement is automatic: No winding! No batteries!
• Water resistant to 50 meters/ about 165 feet
• Watch band has a bracelet-style push button clasp
• All this and it’s only 39mm x 49.5 mm (1.5″ x 1.9″) including bolts
• 11 millimeters thick (.4″)
• Warranty, and more!

This watch retains a hard-working,  athletic look without sacrificing the luxury and the quality that are synonymous with Audemars Piguet.  Quality comes with a price, of course, but I found several authorized dealers online selling the stainless steel Royal Oak Chronograph in prices ranging between $14,500.00 and $20,000.00.

Royal Oak Chronograph in Stainless Steel and a Black dial

Are you a man that likes robots? Do you like futuristic looking things that have nifty buttons, are shiny, and have a cool shape? How about practicality? Do you want your gizmo from the future to be productive? How about the quality and the desirability of your gadget? You want it to be top notch and be the envy of all, right? Well, consider the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph watch for men.

This timepiece looks like something Tom Cruise’s character in the movie, Minority Report would wear while being a badass and trying to survive an ultra-modernistic,  corrupt government. The Royal Oak Chronograph’s hexagonal shape secured down by 8 screws, makes it easily distinct from other watches’ designs. The case and bracelet are made of a brushed and polished Stainless Steel finish with bevel edges.  Case Diameter is 39mm by 49.5mm including lugs, and the case thickness is 11mm. A Push Button Fold-over Clasp secures the bracelet around your wrist.  The dial is Metallic Black with an engraved tapestry “waffle” design, and has a date window between the 4 and 5 o’clock position.  The crystal protecting the dial is made of Scratch Resistant Sapphire. The hour markers and hands are of applied silver toned index with a luminescent fill. The watch also contains 37 Jewels.

Other functions of the Royal Oak Chronograph include automatic movement, a 12 hour stopwatch, and self-winding Chronograph. It also has an AP Caliber of 2385 beats at 21,600 vph. The approximate power reserve is 40 hours and it has a water resistance of 50m/ 165 ft.

Pros: the watch contains 37 jewels that aren’t highly visible. This could be a good thing since many men would rather not show off the bling, but the jewels add monetary value besides fashion value to the watch.  The watch has many useful functions: hour, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph, and water resistance. It also comes with a warranty.

Cons: Metal watches usually start off cold and take awhile to warm up, so some may find the chill factor a little uncomfortable. Two buttons for the stopwatch stick out quite a bit on the right side that can get caught on things. The watch costs $15,525 and to me, the value isn’t super apparent, visibly. The watches all-steel finish doesn’t make it look like a watch that would cost up to $20,700.

So who should own this watch? Men who like to be discreet about their wealth perhaps, or men who like the hexagonal shape, all-Stainless Steel material, and chronographs that give it a polished and futuristic appearance. The variations to the Royal Oak Chronograph 2600STOO1110ST03 by Audemars Piguet you can get, are mostly based on dial color and other color details inside the watch. You can get it with a dial color difference of:  blue, white, or brown.

MC12

Imagine if you will wearing a piece of technological wizardry on your wrist designed after the limited edition MC12 Maserati sports car.  A work of art built for only 150 lucky individuals, the Audemars Piguet Millenary MC12 Tourbillon Chronograph and the car are limited editions. 

The tourbillion chronograph offers a platinum case protected by a sapphire scratch-resistant crystal with self-winding movement.  Every piece of this watch is made by hand.  With a 237 hour power reserve and indication you will always be in the know about your battery life. 

The off-center skeletonized dial  allows a view deep into the inner workings of this masterpiece.  The strap is made from blue crocodile offset by white stitching.

Audemars Piguet Caliber 2884 contains 30 jewels, 336 parts and 21,600vph.  The chronograph has a 30 minute carbon totalizer at 12 o’clock.  You will find the sweep center seconds, chrono pushers in the 10 and 2 o’clock  positions.

This watch measures in at 47.0mm with a transparent back to admire it from both sides.   With a fixed  bezel it is also water resistant to 20 meters or 65 feet making it suitable for any Spring shower, taking a dip or light diving should the mood strike you.

Matching the Maserati MC12 high performance sports car in every detail, perhaps if you are lucky enough you can make it a matching pair.  It would be exquisite.