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15 October 2013, 11:39 AM
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#1 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Real Name: Ben
Location: SIN & JKT
Watch: Rolex, AP, PP
Posts: 9,874
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Visit to Audemars Piguet Boutique Ginza - Watch Pics Galore
I am currently in Tokyo for holiday and decided to pay a visit to the Audemars Piguet Boutique in Ginza, Tokyo. Like the Singapore boutique, the Tokyo boutique is directly run by Audemars Piguet and as boutique, they have first choice allocation for the most desirable timepiece.
Finding the place is a bit of a challenge with my usual poor sense of direction.  It's located a bit off-centre from Ginze at 7-Chrome.  On my arrival, I was greeted warmly and attended by Ms Ayako who gladly showed me the collection they have. The boutique has a comfortable and relaxing sitting lounge.  The just released LBJ Offshore Limited Edition. This is my first encounter with this watch. It's rose gold with a polished titanium bezel and as advertised, there is a diamond encrusted pusher to activate the chronograph function. Overall impression is kind of ho-hum and not a piece I would think of owning. The grey strap looks out of place and is extremely heavy and stiff.      The 2013 Novelty all black Ceramic 44m ROO. I have seen the pictures of this watch and basically, it's the same watch as the FC 44 but swap with a ceramic case. The watch in real life is very gorgeous. The finishing on the ceramic case is excellent and the watch feels light. At 44mm, it is a bit too big for me though unfortunately.   The Rose Gold Royal Oak Skeleton Perpetual calendar. This piece is stunning. The dial has an open skeleton design with a gorgeous display caseback. It's heavy though as both case and bracelet are make entirely of 18K RG. This is the ultimate "look at me" watch.      The Jules Audemars Extra Thin This is a dress watch in the strictest sense of the word. It is a simple 2 hands black dial design in Rose Gold and have the same 2121 movement found in the RO Jumbo. No date, no second hand and it's amazingly thin, I think the thinnest watch that AP has ever produced.   The Royal Oak Offshore Ginza Forged Carbon By far, my favourite timepiece. I have seen pictures of this watch in TRF forum including some really nice one and it's unreal how much better it looks in real life!  The watch is made from forged carbon with a cemet bezel. A smooth dial and white ringed subdials. As with all LEs, AP gave the watch a beautiful display caseback.    The watch wears very comfortably and has great wrist presence. This is one ROO that I fall in love besides the Diver.  Besides, at 42mm, it fits me perfectly.  I have until today to decide if I will get this watch. Most of the 200 pieces have already been sold and only a few are left in the boutique. I might not have the chance to buy it again on my return to Tokyo. My heart says YES but my bank account says....  . Too bad  Some other watches that I have taken pictures of : The Jules Audemars Skeleon  The RO Tourbillon Chronograph & RO Tourbillon Chronograph [B]   The Rose Gold Equation of Time  The ROO Lava. I think that's what its called.  A weird looking skeleton watch which I have no idea what it is....  The Tour Auto ROO limited Edition  Finally... The Rose Gold RO Chronograph in 39mm which has been discontinued.  Thanks for reading! Apologies for the picture quality as I don't have my better cameras with me and it's quite a challenge to capture the pictures under boutique lighting. |
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15 October 2013, 11:45 AM
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#2 |
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2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: May 2012
Real Name: Soly
Location: UK/US
Watch: Rolex, AP, PP
Posts: 3,089
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Very nice pics. Thank you for sharing.
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15 October 2013, 11:45 AM
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#3 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Real Name: Carl
Location: Always moving
Watch: If you wish...
Posts: 22,039
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Seems like you admired and tried a lot of very nice timepieces! The tourbillon's, EOT, perpetual calendars...the JA...the LBJ! A lot of beautiful watches! Thank you for sharing!
__________________
Mon corps c'est un pays en guerre sur l'point d'finir, Le général de l'armée de terre s'attend au pire, J'ai faim, j'ai frette, je suis trop faible pour me lever debout, On va hisser le drapeau blanc un point c'est tout. - André Fortin |
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15 October 2013, 11:47 AM
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#4 |
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Banned
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 4,345
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Very nice photos, thanks for posting
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15 October 2013, 12:29 PM
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#5 |
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2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NYC
Watch: Patek / AP / Rolex
Posts: 794
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Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!!!
BZ |
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15 October 2013, 12:29 PM
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#6 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Real Name: Wayne
Location: Singapore
Watch: AP, PP, Rolex
Posts: 1,791
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Amazing photos of an equally amazing collection at the Ginza boutique!
It must be a wonderful (and torturing) experience to consider whether or not to add the Ginza LE to your collection now 
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15 October 2013, 12:42 PM
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#7 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Real Name: Alex
Location: Chicago
Watch: AP,PP, Rolex
Posts: 37,156
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Thanks for sharing your experience, great pics also
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15 October 2013, 01:30 PM
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#8 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: PacNW
Watch: Enthusiast
Posts: 2,611
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Great post - thanks for the photodocumentation. The FC does look cool but the RG RO - oh my!
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15 October 2013, 01:38 PM
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#9 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Real Name: Dennis
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 171
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that weird looking AP Skeleton is the Jules Audemars Escapement or something... It's an Escapement AP is very proud of if remember correctly!
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15 October 2013, 02:55 PM
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#10 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 1,695
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awesome pics, nice of Ap to let u snap some pics, thanks for sharing
__________________
PP Geneva |
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15 October 2013, 03:02 PM
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#11 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2009
Real Name: Sam
Location: Singapore
Watch: Audemars Piguet
Posts: 1,689
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Great shots! Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
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15 October 2013, 03:04 PM
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#12 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Real Name: Phong
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,718
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Some very fine AP's and equally fine photos. Thanks for sharing.
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15 October 2013, 05:46 PM
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#13 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Real Name: Will
Location: land of oz
Watch: sundial
Posts: 2,219
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great pics
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15 October 2013, 05:51 PM
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#14 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 35,297
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what a set of pictures!
personally, i would LOVE to own and wear the ginza. what a hot piece. as you know, once the card has been swiped, the "pain" is forgotten immediately upon putting on the watch.....  must be torture for you right now! oh, and the 39mm RG ROC....close to perfection.
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15 October 2013, 06:05 PM
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#15 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NL
Posts: 115
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The RO Tourbillon is amazing!!!
Thanks for sharing |
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15 October 2013, 06:19 PM
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#16 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: HK
Watch: AP ROC, Nautilus
Posts: 1,657
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Very awesome set of pictures. Thanks for sharing it! YG
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk now Free
__________________
"We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right" -Nelson Mandela "It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices" -Dumbledore Instagram: horolj_ |
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15 October 2013, 06:40 PM
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#17 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Real Name: Roger
Location: Hong Kong
Watch: Too many!
Posts: 6,116
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Great photos Ben - you need to get the Ginza one for sure, suits you well!
Can I ask about the Lava? It actually looks red in the photos with straight steel (rather than the lava which is PVD coated steel and orange accents). If it is the former then it is the Queen's Road edition for HK (only 100). |
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15 October 2013, 06:50 PM
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#18 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Earth
Watch: PatekRolexAPLange
Posts: 196
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Nicely done!
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15 October 2013, 07:55 PM
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#19 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Real Name: Travis
Location: FL / NYC
Watch: Yes..
Posts: 33,486
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Thanks for taking us on the visit, Ben.
Stunning display of APs! That RG Skeleton Perp is just
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15 October 2013, 07:57 PM
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#20 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Real Name: Thomas
Location: Midwest USA
Watch: AP PP Rolex
Posts: 3,348
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Fun Visit...Great Post....Thanks for sharing!
I was on the fence on the LBJ - but the RG color scheme looks really nice... |
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15 October 2013, 09:13 PM
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#21 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Watch: N/A
Posts: 1,373
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RG Perp Calendar - that is the mother of all grails for me!
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15 October 2013, 09:15 PM
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#22 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Real Name: Kyle
Location: HK
Watch: Those from my wife
Posts: 669
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Thanks for the sharing Ben, great pics!!
Tokyo is one of my fav city |
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15 October 2013, 09:32 PM
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#23 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Real Name: B
Location: UK
Posts: 976
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Amazing post Ben thanks so much, I felt like I was there with ya! :-))
__________________
Current: 1: Rolex DSSD M 2008 2: Rolex Day-Date 40 YG White Dial Random 2018 3:Panerai Luminor Submersible Titanium PAM 25 2013 P Previous:[/B] 1: Rolex 16610 Y 2002 2: Rolex Daytona V 2008 3: Rolex 16610LV Z 2007 4: Rolex Milgauss 116400GV V 2008 5: Panerai Luminor Marina PR PAM 93 2005 6: AP ROO Diver H 2013 7: Rolex DJ II Slate w/ Grn Romans Random 2013 8:Panerai Submersible Ti PAM 25 2013 |
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15 October 2013, 09:36 PM
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#24 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2012
Real Name: Kons
Location: ATH
Watch: DD40
Posts: 473
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This is unfair, Ben. I was in Tokyo till last Friday afternoon, if you were already there we should have gone together... (better for my wallet that perhaps we didn't do that!!!)
Great report, thanks for sharing.
__________________
Travel, See, Feel, Explore. |
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15 October 2013, 09:41 PM
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#25 | ||||
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Real Name: Ben
Location: SIN & JKT
Watch: Rolex, AP, PP
Posts: 9,874
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Thanks guys for your compliments!
Quote:
 Yeah, my heart arguing with my wallet. Quote:
Yup, agree the RG ROC is gorgeous. Quote:
Quote:
I flew into Tokyo this Sunday. So just miss you. No problem, can always get together next time!
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15 October 2013, 09:46 PM
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#26 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Toronto
Watch: Rolex Explorer II,
Posts: 419
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awesome pics, thanks for sharing,
were they a bit hesitant on you taking pics of the watches ? |
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15 October 2013, 11:20 PM
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#27 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Real Name: MJC
Location: PHL USA
Watch: IWC, Rolex, AP
Posts: 29,232
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Great pics, thank you for sharing!
__________________
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15 October 2013, 11:35 PM
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#28 |
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2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Real Name: Neil
Location: UK
Watch: ing ships roll in
Posts: 59,369
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I used to only go to Ginza for the hostesses but now I have another reason!
Great pics as always, Ben. |
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15 October 2013, 11:57 PM
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#29 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: .
Posts: 17,898
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Awesome pics!! The LBJ looks just as 'non-appealing' as the other pics I've seen.
HOWEVER, that ceramic is just so smooth and sleek--I am really starting to love that 44mm! |
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16 October 2013, 04:54 AM
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#30 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: uk
Posts: 2,667
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Great pics thanks for sharing your visit & WOW the RG skeleton perpetual calendar is awesome
Grab that Ginza while you can Ben it looks great on you
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