Sophisticated Ladies
Audemars Piguet ups the ante with its latest women’s creations
After serving as serious eye candy at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in January, Audemars Piguet’s dazzling trio of new Millenary watches, first revealed in Dubai in late 2017, finally arrived in Hong Kong in summer 2018. Although in essence there isn’t a radical difference between these three elegant ovoid stunners and earlier pieces from the Millenary line – they’re all powered by Audemars’ impressive, hand- wound 5201 movement that offers almost 50 hours of power – each in its own way is absolutely gorgeous. Two of them, set with diamonds around the bezel and lugs, and attached with slinky, supple Polish- mesh bracelets, are nearidentical, except that one comes in pink gold and the other in white gold. Each features an offset white mother- of- pearl main dial and an asymmetrical smallseconds counter with pinkgold hands. The movement is partly visible through the front crystal; equally eye- catching are the large Roman numerals on the main dial and the pink sapphire cabochon- set crowns.
Although following a similar basic design, the third new Millenary features a pink- gold case with frosted satin finishing ( an exquisite treatment developed by Florentine jeweller Carolina Bucci) on the bezel and lugs, while its offset dial and subdial are in opal, hence their delicate interplay of colour. It’s attached to the wrist by a blue rubber strap, also with frosted finishing, with the alternatives of an alligator strap in light blue and also black rubber. The final flourish: a translucent sapphire cabochon- set crown. Although exuding femininity, these three pieces – which each measure 28.59 x 32.74mm – serve as eloquent statements of horological expertise that should entice the growing body of women watch enthusiasts, not least through their use of a beautifully worked hand- wound movement.