REFLECTION OF THE TIMES
Italian jeweller Carolina Bucci teams up with Audemars Piguet once again for a limitededition timepiece that ups the stakes on lust-worthiness. By Charmaine Ho
Tell us about this new Royal Oak Frosted Gold Carolina Bucci Limited Edition timepiece. As you know, about two years ago, we launched the Royal Oak Frosted Gold, and it was a watch intended for women, designed by a woman. I didn’t touch the lines of the watch, but what I wanted to do was rough up the surface of the bracelet and the case. And now, we have this limitededition watch that I am honoured and proud to be presenting today. It’s in yellow gold, which is my favourite colour; and not only do the bracelet and case have my signature [the Florentine technique; a gold finishing achieved with a diamond tip drill] all over them, it also has a mirror dial. Why did you choose a mirror? Apart from it being a beautiful contrast to the rough texture of the Florentine finish—because a mirror is very flat and very still— for me, a mirror represents a contemporary woman. It really reflects you, its wearer, anyone. And in a world that is constantly changing, the watch changes too: Be it a Singaporean or an Italian sky, in the city or a forest, or on a beach, it gives endless reflections and looks endlessly different all the time. And I think that is a reflection of the contemporary woman. It’s a watch that I like to play with; it goes with me wherever I go. Were there any challenges in creating this watch?
A mirror dial may seem incredibly simple but I must give a nod to the incredible craftmanship in Le Brassus [where Audemars Piguet’s manufacture is located]. Two years ago, I gave them a headache when I first presented the idea of the Frosted Gold. It took about seven or eight times of back-and-forths to achieve the perfect balance and get it right visually. Then, two years later, I went back to Audemars Piguet and said: “I just want a mirror. ”Well, that simple mirror presented even more of a headache because to create something that flat still leaves zero tolerance for imperfection; not a speck of dust, not a fingerprint, nothing. (There was about 70 to 80 percent of dial wastage.) But this watch really breaks all the major codes [in accordance to Audemars Piguet’s motto] because this is the first time ever that the Royal Oak comes without a tapisserie dial. When I first presented what I wanted to do to Audemars Piguet, the answer was no. But I think we e are both stubborn, both fourth generation [of a family business], ss], and we both have a desire to respect tradition but to also progress and to keep breaking the rules for r wonderful, exciting new pieces. ■