Audemars Piguet Millenary Frosted Gold Philosophique

The new timepiece signed by Audemars Piguet is inspired by the XVIIth century single-handed timepiece’s aesthetics.

The challenge, met by the master watchmakers at the Manufacture, was to set time on women’s side through a brand new timepiece that features one single hand – as to go against the contemporary conventions of time measurement.

At Audemars Piguet we always choose to hold our course according to our beliefs by giving way to independent trends, also in turbulent times. We keep doing this today with the new Millenary Philosophique, a watch that distances itself from today’s hectic time, measured in minutes, and that invites to set your own rhythm.

François-Henry Bennahmias

The new Millenary Frosted Gold Philosophique was carefully hand–finished by the Manufacture’s artisans. The pink or white 18k gold case presents alternating matte and Frosted Gold finishings – a technique that Audemars Piguet derived from the Florentine jewellery designer Carolina Bucci, and that results in an effect similar to diamond powder thanks to the metal’s micro-hammering.

The transparent back of the case revels the oscillating weight, which coloured surfaces recall the chromatic undulations of the hand made dial, in the tones of blue or brown. The single hand is polished and glossed.

This timepiece, that enriches the collection of manual winding pieces, comes with the calibre 3140, a new automatic movement with patented mechanism that moves the hand around the dial by following an elliptic trajectory. The hour wheel perfectly matches with a transparent disk positioned on the dial, on which the hand is set. This allows the hand to follow its path despite the elliptic case.

Back in history

Audemars Piguet launched its first Philosophique watch in 1982, during the quartz crisis.

Quartz represented a real disruption in the watch industry, that pushed brands to look for innovative solutions to face the devastating effects caused by the emerging of this new technology.

Audemars Piguet answered back by shattering the mechanical records set until then with the thinnest perpetual calendar movement, in 1978, and by unveiling revolutionary mechanical watches that unite tradition and Avantgarde design.

To defying the quartz trend, Audemars Piguet introduced its first Philosophique model in 1982. This model connects with the origins of the instruments to measure time that, since the XVIIIth century, were equipped with one hand only, to streamline the energy transmission.

Millenary means creativity

Since its foundation, in 1875, Audemars Piguet has been creating ladies timepieces, from the timeless classic to more contemporary and forward-looking lines.

Since its introduction, in 1955, the Millenary represented a white canvass stirring creativity, with its elliptic case, the extravagant dials and its exposed manual movement.

In such a watch, rich in contrasts and inspired by architecture and art, technical savoir faire and innovative design find their harmonic balance.

Even if this collection was originally designed for men, the first lady models launched in 1998 became more and more relevant though the years. Since 2015 this collection is designed for ladies exclusively: unconventional pieces that vary in materials and finishing techniques, among which polishing, glazing and the Frosted Gold one.

The creativity of the Millenary collection is to be found in the 2019 new Millenary Frosted Gold Aventurine, with its dark-blue aventurine dial and the seconds counter that reminds of the starry sky.

This cosmic hint is present in the 18k white gold case and Frosted Gold finish models, on the bezel, internal bezel and on the lugs. To complement it, the 18k white gold “polish” mesh bracelet hand made and hand polished confers a vintage touch and, once on the wrist, create a second skin effect.