Audemars Piguet Enlisted Matthew Williams to Make the Sleekest Royal Oaks Ever

Final time you labored with MAD, and now you talked about gaining access to the total AP machine. How totally different was the method this time round by way of designing the watch and dealing on it?

There was simply far more alternative for personalisation and totally different finishes and elements of the watch that might be explored. We have been engaged on a Royal Oak, however then additionally an Offshore. In order that was enjoyable to discover and study that watch.

You bought to go to the manufacturing facility, too. How did that change your notion of not simply AP, however watches on the whole? Did you are feeling such as you left with a higher respect?

Positively. Assembly the grasp watchmakers, understanding the way it takes a lifetime of learning to discover ways to create watch elements and repair watches, the craftsmanship that is concerned, the effort and time it takes to take care of and create these timepieces—it’s simply actually, actually inspiring.

Was there one thing that you simply got here away perhaps most shocked by or enthusiastic about?

After I was studying extra about AP—simply their materials growth of ceramic and gold, and the way they’ll match elements for watches which might be 100 years previous—it was actually unimaginable to see the trendy craftsmanship that exists within the firm. [There’s this] starvation and urge for food and power that is put into being progressive within the watch house, but they nonetheless preserve the very best high quality that exists on this planet. That was actually, actually inspiring. I imply, the supplies we used on these watches are frequent within the AP assortment, however there are different watches that they try this use far more unusual supplies that they’ve developed, which is admittedly cool.

These watches all share some placing design codes. What concepts have been you attempting to get at with this assortment?

I actually wished to create one thing that was tremendous timeless and chic that I would be pleased to put on for the remainder of my life. Clearly, carrying a gold watch will be loud relying on who you’re, the place you’re carrying it, however I feel the main points are delicate and timeless.