FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Tasting the rainbow at AP House, Complecto and a mean Queen
Luke BenedictusHey Everyone,
It’s Ricardo and I’m jumping into the Friday Wind Down today. This week, things died down a bit after the all-out blitz of releases we saw prior. Which in turn opened my schedule up to finally experience what some have called a trip to watch Mecca. And that is the recently opened AP House.
The space, located in the meatpacking district of Manhattan, NY plays to all things Audemars Piguet, hoping to redefine the customer and brand experience. An open layout, outside seating and a personable staff justify a visit, whether you’re in the market for an AP or not.
There is also something to be said for being able to see a watch in natural lighting without every alarm in the place going off.
But my goal this visit was to see some amazing pieces in person. From the rose-gold bedazzled 50th Anniversary Royal Oak with its Bleu Nuit dial, to it’s sky blue dialled, stainless-steel cousin, so much watch goodness was on display.
And the star of the show? None other then the recently released Carolina Bucci Limited Edition Royal Oak. I can see why Zach said what he said but I definitely have my own takeaways from the experience. Stay tuned for more on that.
While still coming off the high of AP House, waiting for me only a few blocks away was the venue for Complecto’s second monthly meetup.
In a short amount of time, it’s remarkable what Jason has accomplished. For this event, that meant sponsorship from Wax Insurance. They’re a collectible insurance startup which has been garnering a ton of attention from watch collectors looking to insure the valuables they collect.
Once again, the event brought together dozens of people with different backgrounds. Walking around and listening to their stories and why they felt a strong connection to what Complecto is trying to accomplish was the best part of my night. All the amazing watches were just frosting on the cake.
Very, very, very delicious frosting.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend,
Ricardo
Watch meme of the week: She can be one mean Queen
As you’d expect from one of the richest women in the world, the Queen has a perfectly splendid little watch collection. On her coronation in 1953, she wore a Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101 and although she gave her Vacheron Constantin model 4481 to Princess Diana, she also has a Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars and an art deco-era Omega Ladymatic. But this meme is quite right, the Queen does indeed own a couple of Pateks – the riot of diamonds that is the ref 4975/1G and a Golden Ellipse in white gold with a blue dial and diamond bezel. Admittedly, neither of those are the most obvious heirlooms for the future King of England. Our advice, George: is to keep your eye on the prize and start campaigning for the Royal Yacht Britannia instead.
Wrist shot of the week: Cyan-tific method
You might not be able to spot it because it’s so well camouflaged against those turquoise waters, but there is, in fact, a watch in this picture. More specifically, it’s the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula OneTM Team and it belongs to the brand’s CEO Chris Grainger-Herr. Nice shot Chris, hope you didn’t fall off your inflatable unicorn while taking it.
Time+Tide Shop select of the week: Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto
How it would have actually felt to be an early aviator is something that can’t be recreated. But Hamilton can give you the look – created using modern materials including stainless steel and sapphire crystal. Add an automatic movement and a perfectly proportioned 42mm case for a new take on a vintage timepiece.
Price: $1525 AUD Buy it now at the Time+Tide Shop.
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week:
VIDEO: The hi-beat goes on with the return of the Longines Ultra-Chron
The Longines Heritage collection is the gift that keeps giving. There was the sector-dialled goodness of the Longines Heritage Classic, the classic field watch vibe of the Longines Heritage Military Marine Nationale, and the art-deco charm of the Tuxedo, the list just goes on and on. The latest Heritage release that looks set to turn heads is the hi-beat Longines Ultra-Chron. Read more…
How a fatal train crash became the catalyst for the Ball Watch Company’s success
The domination of the Swiss watch industry feels like an eternal truth, especially given the age of some of the most popular brands which stretch back hundreds of years. They may have always had the upper hand when it came to high-end complications and ornate decoration worthy of royalty, but there was a period of time when if you wanted accuracy, then you wanted American. The reasoning behind this lies with the revolutionary United States’ railroad network, and specifically the role played by Webb C. Ball. Read more…
How do you work out whether to stick or twist?
Let’s set the scene. You walk into the boutique, knowing today is the day. The wallet is about to get a little lighter, and a spot in the watch box will be filled – but you’ve got a great excuse. Whether you’re celebrating your birthday, a promotion or Heimlich Manoeuvre Day (no joke, look it up), you’ve got a great excuse for the new purchase. Courteously, you accept a drink and answer affirmatively when asked: “Would you like to try it on?”. Finally, the watch is on your wrist, you waltz out of the boutique, marking the beginning of the honeymoon period. But, what do you do once the initial attraction runs dry, and a newer, shinier thing enters the fray? Read more…