As the U.S. Open gets under way in Flushing Meadows, Audemars Piguet has announced that the world’s number one tennis player, Novak Djokovic, has joined the brand as its latest Ambassador. Seeded number 1 at the U.S. Open, Djokovic has enjoyed an exceptional 2011 season, running his record to 57-2, including five wins over former #1 Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic joins AP ambassadors including LeBron James, F1 superstar Michael Schumacher, and golfers Lee Westwood and Rory Mcllroy, among others.

According to Audemars Piguet, the relationship began several months ago when Djokovic paid a discreet visit. After visiting the workshops in La Brussus, Djokovic expressed his admiration for the brand’s watches, and especially for the movements. Djokovic said “I have discovered a new passion for fine watchmaking and I truly admire both the traditional and modern aspects of the work accomplished by Audemars Piguet”.

Beyond Djokovic’s supurb tennis skills, Audemars Piguet appreciates his generosity and altruism. In 2007, he founded the Novak Humanitarian Fund that operated on various fronts, including providing access to tennis courts and scholarships for young Serbians, donating ambulances to hospitals in Kosovska Mitrovica and Brus, and making a donation to the Gracanica monastery for the redemption of land parcels in Padaliste. The fund has recently narrowed its scope of activities and operates to provide emotional and programmatic support to children who have lost a parent. In Serbia, the foundation also seeks to promote access to education as well as educational development for all children. To aid these efforts, Djokovic has partnered with UNICEF Serbia.

Djokovic also takes part in fundraising exhibition matches whenever he can to support the reconstruction efforts for Haiti, Japan, as well as his home country of Serbia (the cities Loznica and Kraljevo.)

All of which makes it entirely natural for this bighearted individual and accomplished sportsman to join the Audemars Piguet family. Brand CEO Philippe Merk stated, “We are particularly honored by the friendship we enjoy with this great champion who expresses through his sport our own values of excellence and audacity. We wish him a warm welcome and the best of luck for the rest of the season, which he has dominated so far, but the battle with his rivals isn’t over yet.”

On June 8 at its Fuller Building headquarters in New York City, Antiquorum will offer unique and exceptional timepieces including an Audemars Piguet Grande Complication Piece Unique made for and signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and a Vacheron Constantin minute-repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch in a 40mm platinum case produced in 2002 as a unique example. Find web and video links inside.

The highlight of the sale is the Audemars Piguet Piece Unique made for the company’s 125th anniversary in 2000. The sapphire caseback bears Arnold Schwarzenegger’s engraved signature. Made specially for the inaugural “Time to Give” charity auction co-hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Muhammad Ali, the watch is a large minute-repeating, titanium and 18K pink gold wristwatch featuring a round button split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar with moon phases.

Click the screen capture below to view a short video about this piece.

The unique Vacheron Constantin minute-repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch is offered complete with original box, certificate of authenticity and recent factory service.

The sale also includes an Audemars Piguet “Millenary Maserati Anniversary MC12 Tourbillon and Chronograph”. Produced in 2006 in a limited edition of 150 pieces, this piece commemorates the success of the Maserati MC12 in the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers’ Cup. This rare platinum wristwatch with twin white gold and palladium alloy barrels, black carbon movement with blue anodized aluminum bridges, and 10-day power reserve also features a visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, oval-button chronograph, register and tachometer.

View the complete sale press release including high resolution images at the official Antiqourum website.

In a video interview you can watch at CyclingNews.com, top pro cycling sprinter Mark Cavendish and rival Filippo Pozzato reveal that though relations between them may not always have been on the best terms, all that changed once they got to know each other and learned they share an interest in watches.

Cavendish, who hails from the Isle of Man, is one of pro cycling’s most colorful characters, and he is widely regarded as the best sprinter in the pro peloton today. He chalked up 11 wins in his first professional season, and has gone on to win 15 Tour de France stages, among many other victories. A fierce competitor, “Cav” has been described as confident bordering on arrogant.

In years gone by, Cavendish and Italian rider Filippo Pozzato exchanged insults that caused many to characterize their relationship as antagonistic. Speaking to Cycle Sport in 2008, Pozzato said “I’ve got a lot of respect for almost everyone in the peloton but I just don’t like Riccardo Ricco and Mark Cavendish… Cavendish is dangerous because he never brakes and tries to go through impossible gaps.” Cavendish for his part called Pozzato an “Italian playboy” and his “least favorite rider in the peloton.”

Today however, all that is water under the bridge. In the Cycling News interview, Cavendish says that once the two got to know each other, they realized they had shared interests, including fine wristwatches. During the interview, Pozzato can be seen wearing an Audemars Piguet ROO. The interviewer asks Cav “Is that a good watch?” to which he replies “It is, yeah.” When asked “Have you got one similar?” Cav responds “I’ve got the same make – Audemars Piguet – but not like this. This is a rare one actually.”

See the full interview at CyclingNews.com.

Designed as a playful variation of its website, the Audemars Piguet application enables users to discover a wealth of content and amazing graphics. The high-resolution screen displays signature models and complex mechanisms. The app includes films starring new models, along with videos highlighting watchmaking expertise. You will also find Audacity.ch, the online magazine with the latest news, innovations, icons and friends of the brand.

The “Try it” function lets you try a model of your choice by “virtually” placing it on your wrist; once the photo has been taken, you can share it with your friends by e-mail or MMS. Another touch locates Audemars Piguet boutiques and points of sale worldwide and, thanks to integrated GPS, the ones closest to you. The iPad version lets users magnify the app’s content and zoom in on the heart of the timepieces to discover the finer details of a “grande tapisserie” motif, or the delicate beauty of an openworked Manufacture-made movement.

This attractive, user-friendly application offers a range of practical functions that will be regularly renewed thanks to an integrated update feature.

The app will soon be available for other operating systems.

Discover the Audemars Piguet app free of charge by downloading it from the App Store:

· iPhone application

· iPad application

Enjoy navigating the Audemars Piguet universe!

Audemars Piguet created minute repeater and grand strike pocket watches from its founding in 1875, and they claim the first minute repeater wristwatch, produced in 1892. The new Millenary Minute Repeater incorporates the manufacture’s newest technical developments: the AP escapement and a double balance-spring, as well as the striking mechanism and its gongs. The result is an auditory and visual delight for the 21st century.

The striking mechanism is the oldest of all complications. As early as the 15th century, certain pocket watches sounded the hours in passing, while quarter-repeating mechanisms striking the hours and quarters on demand appeared in the late 17th century. These watches, endowed with a mechanical memory and which initially served to tell the time in the dark, are now one of the greatest demonstrations of horological expertise, and the exclusive preserve of a few movement manufacturers.

The Millenary Minute Repeater brings this complication thoroughly up to date with the AP escapement, the double balance-spring, as well as the hammers and the striking gongs.

Drawing inspiration from a mechanism created in the late 18th century by a watchmaker named Robin, Audemars Piguet developed a new escapement combining the high efficiency of a direct-impulse escapement with the reliability of a Swiss lever escapement. The watchmakers in Le Brassus thereby succeeded in reducing the energy losses and in eliminating the need to lubricate the pallet-stones. This groundbreaking technical development in turn enhanced rating accuracy, long-term stability and shock-resistance.

Conceived, developed and produced by Audemars Piguet, the new hand-wound Caliber 2910 driving the Millenary Minute Repeater is also distinguished by the atypical construction of the regulating organ. It is composed of not of one balance spring, but of two balance-springs placed top to tail. This flat opposite-facing double balance-spring system offers numerous advantages: it ensures automatic compensation for potential poising flaws; eliminates the need for the “overcoil” terminal curves of so-called “Breguet-type” balance-springs, which are very tricky to make. It also does away with the imprecision resulting from the vertical position of the watch without resort to a tourbillon. These special features serve to ensure finer adjustment of the balance and spring assembly oscillating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour.

The oval Millenary case in brushed titanium – a material featuring exceptional resonance qualities – is framed by a polished titanium bezel. Particular attention has been paid to the hand-polished beveling, on the interior angles and on the concentric circular-grained motif. The movement is also adorned by a horizontal Côtes de Genève pattern. These many details are visible both from the top and through the transparent caseback, which together serve to highlight a compelling three-dimensional architecture.

Additional technical information appears below the images, which may be enlarged with a click.

Audemars Piguet’s first wristwatch with minute repeater, manufactured in 1892.

Reference
··26371TI.OO.D002CR .01

Movement
··Manufacture Audemars Piguet Calibre 2910
··Offset hours/minutes at 3 o’clock, offset minutes at 7 o’clock
··Three-position winding crown
··Repeater slide serving to activate the minute repeater at 7 o’clock
··Movement dimensions (width and thickness): 37.90 x 32.90 mm
··Casing diameter (width and thickness): 37 x 32 mm
··Total movement thickness: 10.05 mm
··Direct-impulse AP escapement
··Variable-inertia balance fitted with inertia-blocks
··Diameter of the balance: 11.90 mm
··Flat double balance-spring
··Power reserve: 165 hours
··Frequency: 21.600 vph (3Hz)
··Number of parts: 443
··Number of jewels: 40
··Finishing: all parts finished by hand, with hand-polished bevelling, interior angles, snailing, hand-draw file strokes, horizontal “Côtes de Genève” motif and circular-graining on the mainplate

Case
··Titanium oval case
··Width: 47 mm
··Thickness: 42 mm
··Sapphire crystal caseback
··Non water-resistant

Dial
··Anthracite grey dial, applied pink gold Roman numerals, silvered small seconds subdial

Strap
··Hand-sewn black crocodile leather “with large square scales”, fastened by a titanium AP folding clasp

Functions
··Hours
··Minutes
··Small seconds
··Minute repeater

Seven-time world F1 champion Michael Schumacher has joined the Audemars Piguet family as the brand’s newest ambassador. Schumacher holds the most prestigious records in motor racing. His 68 pole positions, 91 victories and 154 podium finishes make him the greatest racing driver of all time. Shumacher will contend to capture an amazing eighth F1 crown in 2011.

It was about one year ago that Schumacher announced his return to F1 at the wheel of the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, alongside Ross Brawn with whom he had gained his 7 world championship titles. For 2011 Shumacher will have a new car more suited to his driving style, and he should be in the hunt for yet another championship.

Shumacher is also fascinated by watchmaking and an acknowledged connoisseur who has been collecting timepieces for a number of years. His friend, Jean Todt, formerly executive director of Scuderia Ferrari and now president of FIA, introduced Shumacher to Audemars Piguet timepieces. Shumacher and AP also share a commitment to a wide range of charitable causes. Audemars Piguet created a foundation in 1992 dedicated to preserving forest areas around the world, and to raise global awareness on this issue. AP consistently donates part of the proceeds from its sales to various environmental projects.

Michael Schumacher also supports a number of associations. He has his own foundation through which he has been able to provide aid to victims of the floods in East Germany and the tsunami. In 1996, he became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Education of Children in Need. Strongly involved in his mission, he has funded and organized a number of events for underprivileged children. As a benefactor of the ICM Brain and Spinal Cord institute for several years now, he uses his image to benefit this internationally reputed research center: “Those who are privileged in life owe it to themselves to help those who are less fortunate, and particularly those who suffer.” In fact, all his participations at the Race of Champions are for the benefit of ICM and he proudly wears the Logo on his racing suit. This particular commitment is shared by Audemars Piguet which, at the 2009 Gstaad Classic, auctioned watch N°1 of the limited series specially created for this occasion and donated the entire proceeds from this sale to ICM.

For Audemars Piguet, the world of motor sports is well-known territory. Having been involved for several years now in historical car rallies such as the National Classic Tour in Belgium, the Gstaad Classic in Switzerland and the Tour Auto in France, the watch manufacturer’s ambassadors also include three other racing drivers: Rubens Barrichello, Jarno Trulli and Sébastien Buemi. Thrilled to reinforce the Audemars Piguet presence in the motorsports world, CEO Philippe Merk emphasized the qualities of this exceptionally popular and talented athlete: “Michael Schumacher is not only the greatest racing driver of all time, he is also a big-hearted, discreet and altruistic individual who dedicates his reputation to great causes. An iconic figure, he embodies strength, determination, as well as a passion for challenges and for competition. It is with a blend of elegance and humility that he will wear our Royal Oak Offshore, the undisputed reference model in the field of prestige sports”.

Michael Shumacher with Audemars Piguet CEO Philippe Merk

On October 5, Audemars Piguet Japan held the brand’s 135th anniversary and new product launch party in the “Choice!” restaurant on the third floor of Tokyo’s prestigious Ark Mori building. The event was attended by 500 guests including VIPs, celebrities and media. The evening included the launch of a new Royal Oak Offshore limited edition.

Mr. Go Mugino, Chief Executive Officer of Audemars Piguet Japan, introduced the evening’s first “special guests”: brand founders Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet appeared in a hologram to greet attendees. Through the wonders of technology, they talked about the history of AP and the watch industry in general, and how things have changed since the time they first started. Historical watches representing 135 years of history were on display around them.

The next and most special guest, representing the brand’s newly released watch model, was Formula 1 racing ace Jarno Trulli, who has been has been serving as Audemars Piguet ambassador since 2008. Trulli is to compete in the Japanese Grand Prix on October 8th, wearing a helmet sporting a picture of the “Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli” Chronograph. This new model, issued in a worldwide limited edition of 500, available as of October 6th from the Audemars Piguet Boutique located in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping precinct, will initially be launched exclusively in Japan. The model will be available internationally by the end of the year. The USA price will be $28,900.

Complete specifications appear below the images, which may be enlarged with a click.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE JARNO TRULLI CHRONOGRAPH

Reference
- 26202AU.OO.D002CA.01

Movement
- Calibre: 3126/3840, selfwinding
- Total diameter: 29.94 mm (13¼ lignes)
- Casing diameter: 26 mm
- Thickness: 7.16 mm
- 59 jewels
- 365 parts
- Up to 60-hour power reserve
- Cadence of the balance: 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz)
- Variable-inertia balance with eight inertia blocks and fl at balance-spring
- Geneva-type mobile balance-spring stud-holder
- Three-position winding stem
- Finishing: all parts meticulously decorated: mainplate circular-grained; bridges rhodium-plated, chamfered, snailed and adorned with Côtes de Genève motif. Diamond-polished jewel sinks, diamond-polished sinks and chamfered spokes on the wheels; chamfered screw rims and slots. 22-carat gold oscillating weight with anthracite grey galvanic coating.

Case
- Forged carbon case middle, Cermet bezel, crown and pushers in sand-blasted titanium, sapphire crystal back in sand-blasted titanium
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Thickness: 15.65 mm
- Back engraved with the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition – Jarno Trulli
- Water resistance: 100 m

Dial
- Anthracite grey with exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” motif, silvered counters, applied hour-markers and hands in white gold with red luminescent coating, silvered inner bezel ring.

Strap
- Black rubber, sand-blasted titanium folding clasp

Functions
- Hours and minutes
- Small seconds
- Chronograph with central seconds hand, 30-minute and 12-hour counters
- Tachometric scale on the flange
- Date

This past Thursday, on the eve of the traditional Swiss watch industry vacation, a longtime friend visited the watchmakers of the Manufacture Audemars Piguet to get an up-close look at the watch bearing his name: the Millenary Quincy Jones, which was presented at the SIHH 2010.

For several years, Audemars Piguet and Quincy Jones have been associated in developing “Project Q”, aimed at raising political and public awareness of young people’s need for self-expression and the means that must be provided to ensure they fulfill their potential. The cornerstone of “Project Q” is the “Q Prize”, an international award presented by Audemars Piguet honoring a public figure or social organization having played a central role on behalf of children. Through his Quincy Jones Foundation, the artist is also committed to helping children by improving their well-being, their health and their dignity. The new Millenary Quincy Jones watch will contribute to raising funds for this foundation.

In speaking of the man behind the foundation, Audemars Piguet CEO Philippe Merk said: “Quincy Jones is not only an amazing artist and a daring entrepreneur, but above all a man with a big heart. One cannot help admiring his career, especially considering the difficulties he encountered during his childhood. He gives us an important life lesson and naturally inspires profound respect.”

Quincy Jones tours the Audemars Piguet workshop

At the bench, examining his namesake timepiece

Quincy Jones with Philippe Merk

The Quincy Jones Millenary

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s After-School All-Stars (ASAS) hosted a star-studded gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York on June 17th honoring Francois-Henry Bennahmias, President & CEO of Audemars Piguet North America, among others, for his support of the Governor’s organization that provides comprehensive after school and summer programs for at-risk children in thirteen cities throughout the country.

Francois-Henry Bennahmias and Governor Schwarzenegger

The evening’s highlights included remarks from Governor Schwarzenegger and a live auction conducted by Sotheby’s Eliza Osborne that included the special pre-sale of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Legacy timepiece scheduled for general market release in March 2011. The auction raised over $500,000 (complete results below).

The Royal Oak Offshore Legacy with the Governor’s seal was taken directly from the Governor’s wrist. It sold for $100,000, with Francois Bennahmias contributing an additional $25,000 on behalf of Audemars Piguet. During their 10 year partnership, AP and Governor Schwarzenegger have co-designed 8 limited edition pieces, and AP has raised over $8 million for ASAS.

Governor Schwarzenegger addresses the crowd.

The live auction gets underway.

Governor Schwarzenegger with the limited edition Royal Oak Legacy.

Founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1992, ASAS puts donated funds to work providing engaging activities to nearly 80,000 children in poverty annually. The programs are free to the participants and they are designed to improve the participants’ lives and to prepare them for the 21st century workforce by incorporating academic support, enrichment, and health & physical fitness. The New York Chapter was established in 1996 and has served over 20,000 of the city’s neediest children, including those from homeless shelters and public housing projects. To learn more about After School All Stars, visit www.afterschoolallstars.org.

“Our entire U.S. charitable efforts started with Governor Schwarzenegger and After-School All-Stars and this relationship has undoubtedly been the inspiration for our never-ending commitment to always giving back,” said Francois-Henry Bennahmias. “After a decade of working together and as a brand still in the hands of the original founding family, Audemars Piguet considers After-School All-Stars a member of this family. We are proud and humbled by the work we have done to make a difference in the lives of so many children.”

Live auction results:

AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE
Arnold Schwarzenegger Chronograph
Sold for $60,000

AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE
Chronograph with the Governor’s seal taken directly from the Governor’s wrist
Sold for $100,000 plus an additional $25,000 contributed by Francois Bennahmias on behalf of Audemars Piguet

AUDEMARS PIGUET JULES AUDEMARS
Dual time with the Governor’s seal
Sold for $40,000

AUDEMARS PIGUET JULES AUDEMARS
Perpetual Calendar with the Governor’s seal
Sold for $50,000

Photo credit: www.startraksphoto.com.

Reuters correspondent Silke Koltrowitz interviewed Ulysee Nardin President and CEO Rolf Schnyder and Audemars Piguet CEO Philippe Merk at the Global Luxury Summit in Paris earlier this month. Both men said their sales are increasing, and each has raised Eurozone prices as the Swiss franc strengthens against the euro. The franc has risen about 4.6 percent against the euro this year.

Schnyder told the Luxury Summit “We changed all our prices in the euro zone a week ago. We took an exchange rate of 1.40.” Merk said “Of course there’s the pressure to adjust pricing upwards in Europe. This trend is going to persist. We had to make a little adjustment in March. We increased prices by 4 percent.”

Commenting on global sales, Schnyder said U.S. sales turned positive at the end of 2009 and that the market is recovering strongly with sales up 35% in May against admittedly weak year-earlier figures. Schnyder said that China and Russia are also doing well. Schnyder expects UN sales to increase 20 to 25% this year.

AP’s sales were down about 10% last year, but the brand saw a 10% increase in the first 4 months of 2010. Merk said “The motor in this industry is the Chinese consumer. That’s certainly very positive. The second smaller engine I believe is Latin America, which showed excellent growth last year, a trend that continues to persist this year.” Merk also noted strong sales recoveries in the USA and the Middle East.

Commenting on the the impact of the European debt crisis on luxury watch demand, Schnyder said “I’m not so worried about it. It affects more the medium-priced brands because the middle class are the people who suffer the most.”

Merk sees the European market losing momentum over both the short and long term. “Europe compared to Asia and also the Americas has slowed down. I think it’s not only the euro, it’s the general economic climate which is not as strong as five or ten years ago,” he said. “We expect less growth from Europe in the future.”

Schnyder also addressed speculation that his independent firm might be acquired by one of the large groups such as LVMH, Richemont or Swatch Group. In a nutshell, he displayed the “Not for sale” sign, saying he expects the brand to remain independent. Schnyder said he has a successor to head the brand in mind, but did not say who it will be. Schnyder purchased the brand with partners in 1983 and has since served as its chief executive.

You can read an in-depth profile of Schnyder in .pdf format from WatchTime’s June, 2005 issue by clicking here.

Read the original Luxury Summit report on the Reuters website.