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orangedial · 13 November 2013, 02:56 AM

It is always a pleasant surprise to receive private invitation from AP. You know you will be in for something exciting, refined and fun! This time, it was a night full of technical content befitting the haute horlogerie status of AP, a night of relentless showcase of pinnacle mechanical timekeeping technologies from the 138 years old Swiss watch powerhouse.

The dinner venue was at a cozy Italian rstaurant called La Villa which is located just next to the AP Service Center. As ironic as it can be, the Italians were not the main casts of the day, but had to give way to the Swiss invasion...

~~ Menu of the Day ~~

Amuse-bouche:
Assorted vintage AP complications from the early 1900s' till the new millennium

AP started making complicated timepieces in the late 19th century. It was quite amazing to see some vintage perpetual calendars and miniaturized minute repeaters on display. I can only imagine how much patience the watchmakers must have to construct each and every one of those precision timepieces by hand in the era when light bulbs had not yet popularized.

Entrée:
A sumptuous multi-course Swiss cuisines complete with champagnes, wines and spirits

How can you better appreciate the finest Swiss Made timekeeping marvels after a long hard day of work? Of course not before feasting on some delicious Swiss cuisines and heightening the senses with some 'spirits'! AP sure knew what to do… Bon-appetit!

Main Course:
A gala buffet of AP Grand Complications, Minute Repeaters, Toubillons, Split-second Chronographs, Jumping Hours, etc.

Unlike most of the brand events which are largely marketing rah-rah, AP did it differently this time by bringing in their Head of Product Management Mr. Claudio Cavaliere to explain the history and technical details of the complicated watches at several intervals of the dinner. Claudio mingled around answering questions from curious guests, while Oliviero and other AP SG team members like Bindy, Jeremy, Teresa and Ilyia were busy entertaining customers and friends.

Oliviero was the host cum emcee of the night

Claudio and guests

Claudio explained the Grande Complication

Naturally, the highlight of the day was the showcase of many rare complications. It was really special and fascinating to be able to get up close and personal with so many dream pieces, some of them are priced in excess of half a million dollars! What a head-spinning buffet of beautiful openworks, crisp ding-ding tunes of the minute repeaters, graceful oscillation of the toubillons, glittering jewels endowing the ladies' timepieces, and the sheer weight of precious metals encasing those complicated movements. All these, together with the interactions with Claudio, brought the appreciation of the brand's technical prowess to a new level.

Sharing here are photos of some high-end pieces which I managed to capture under a dimly lit condition. There were more monster watches (in terms of complication and price, of course) such as the Millenary Carbon One, RG ROO Tourbillon Chronograph and Chronometer with AP Escapement being circulated around but I didn't manage to grab a shot of them. Let's make do...

Jules Audemars Openwork Minute Repeater with Jumping Hour

My most favorite watch of the night

Royal Oak Equation Of Time in rose gold

Royal Oak Extra Thin Tourbillon in stainless steel

Royal Oak Openwork Perpetual Calendar in full platinum

Even the LeBron James ROO made an appearance!

A tray-full of high-end APs… There were a few more trays circulating around

A lady's Millenary with gorgeous dial and beautiful diamond bezel and lugs

An elegant rose gold lady's Jules Audemars

The ever-popular lady's ROO with diamond-clad bezel

Dessert:
Attractive quiz prizes and door gifts, all exclusively AP

Another interesting subevent was a quiz. Oliviero dished out a few trivial questions about AP that made everyone busy flipping any literature available on the table, or simply googling away on smartphones.
All in the quest to win that solid Royal Oak wall clock! I'm most pleased to share with you some pictures of my winning prize!

All in all, it was an enjoyable evening.

My wife was still rather clueless about all the high complications after the dinner. But she left impressed nonetheless, with what she saw as "works of art".
As for me, I left the dinner totally satisfied with the technical engagement of the brand, great meal with a wonderful host and some new friends (especially Jeff and his daughter), and of course the fantastic quiz prize and excellent door gifts.

RO 14790 Tantalum/SS

One of Oliviero's humorous remarks before he brought on Claudio kept on lingering in my mind:
"You may have a lot of questions which I believe only Claudio can answer you, but I know there's one question I can answer you right now… There is NO DISCOUNT!".
As humorous as it can be, there certainly is no discount on AP's commitment in bringing on good products and winning customers' trust after 138 long years.
Looking forward to more excitement in the near future!

RO 15202 Extra Thin 40th Anniversary Jumbo

Thanks for reading!

Mbbgysam · 13 November 2013, 03:04 AM

Wow - sounds like a fantastic event! Thanks for sharing so many photos.

mike@ec · 13 November 2013, 03:07 AM

wow.. I wish I was invited to this event

HauteHorlogerie · 13 November 2013, 03:18 AM

Amazing night! Congrats on that gorgeous wall clock!!!

psv · 13 November 2013, 03:20 AM

Seems like a great evening!

Cru Jones · 13 November 2013, 03:21 AM

wow wow wow, excellent. thanks for the pix and post!! and congrats on the win.

111forza · 13 November 2013, 04:26 AM

WOW now thats what i call a night out

Love your clock

woodsworth · 13 November 2013, 05:27 AM

I feel as if I attended the event, even though I was not lucky enough to be invited!

Thanks a bunch, Wayne :D

RobearH · 13 November 2013, 05:33 AM

Congrats on wonderful evening indulging amongst others who share a common passion.

kilyung · 13 November 2013, 05:42 AM

Fantastic!

diver2012 · 13 November 2013, 06:05 AM

Looks amazing. Would have given my right nut to have been there!

That platinum perpetual calendar is

iLLGT2 · 13 November 2013, 06:36 AM

INCREDIBLE! I hope to see some amazing pieces at the bal harbor event coming up,

travisb · 13 November 2013, 06:47 AM

Double WOW!
Thanks for sharing the evening with us. Looks amazing!

bayerische · 13 November 2013, 07:31 AM

Would not have minded attending!

Soly20 · 13 November 2013, 07:36 AM

Sounds like a great evening. Nice pics. Thanks for sharing.

Psmith · 13 November 2013, 07:50 AM

Most impressive!

AK797 · 13 November 2013, 07:56 AM

fantastic for you.

h999r · 13 November 2013, 08:07 AM

very nice !

00pumpkin · 13 November 2013, 08:09 AM

That is amazing. I have to say I'm definitely jealous.

Jim12345 · 13 November 2013, 08:20 AM

Amazing!! AP truly do it with great style. Great to see some very special watches. Fantastic report, I felt like I was there with you. Congrats on the awesome AP clock!!

SamGMT · 13 November 2013, 08:56 AM

Awesome event! Congrats on your winning!!

Lamkyle · 13 November 2013, 08:59 AM

What a night!

singe89 · 13 November 2013, 09:45 AM

Very cool! AP puts on some outstanding events!!! Congrats on the clock. I'm so jealous...really want one for my office. Thanks for all the quality pics so I can feel like I was there to share in the experience.

Really wish my schedule allowed me to attend the upcoming NY event.

If any of you are attending please take some pics to share with us that cant make it.

toph · 13 November 2013, 09:51 AM

Impressive! Looks like a wonderful evening

FeelingTheBlues · 13 November 2013, 09:57 AM

That vintage minute repeater is to die for!

Thank you for sharing that great evening.

benlee · 13 November 2013, 10:21 AM

So you were their official event photographer?

The food looks only so-so but the watches are nice. Really lovely photos taken. Excellent shot of the RG EOT.

The Platiinum RO openworks looks exciting too. AP however is overdue for a refresh of all their 42mm ROOs and come up with their own in-house chronograph with a display back. Hope that happens in SIHH 2014.

I wonder if attending the event obligates all guests to wear an AP? Or they can wear a competitor's brand?

Nice wall clock! Unfortunately the screws are not made of white gold but hey, it's free! Congrats!

conkers · 13 November 2013, 10:27 AM

Looks good. AP are hosting a big one in HK on 28th, although sadly they have had to move it from the 3 Michelin Star Joel Robuchon!

B. Doggy · 13 November 2013, 11:10 AM

Oh man!!

HL65 · 13 November 2013, 11:34 AM

Very cool!! Thanks for sharing...Cheers,

ik2000 · 13 November 2013, 11:55 AM

is a phenomenal watch. Did you also manage to see the Jules Audemars skeleton tourbillon too?

I really wish AP would elevate the JA line as much as the RO and especially ROO line. The have some of the most heavyweight and technically sublime pieces I have ever seen from any brand (great that you managed to try the jumping hour on the wrist). The Equation of time in skeleton and non skeleton format is just amazing.
As you can tell, I am a huge fan of the line!

Thanks again for the pics.

13 November 2013, 02:56 AM	#1
orangedial "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Real Name: Wayne Location: Singapore Watch: AP, PP, Rolex Posts: 1,791	A Complicated Evening with AP It is always a pleasant surprise to receive private invitation from AP. You know you will be in for something exciting, refined and fun! This time, it was a night full of technical content befitting the haute horlogerie status of AP, a night of relentless showcase of pinnacle mechanical timekeeping technologies from the 138 years old Swiss watch powerhouse. The dinner venue was at a cozy Italian rstaurant called La Villa which is located just next to the AP Service Center. As ironic as it can be, the Italians were not the main casts of the day, but had to give way to the Swiss invasion... *~~ Menu of the Day ~~* Amuse-bouche: Assorted vintage AP complications from the early 1900s' till the new millennium AP started making complicated timepieces in the late 19th century. It was quite amazing to see some vintage perpetual calendars and miniaturized minute repeaters on display. I can only imagine how much patience the watchmakers must have to construct each and every one of those precision timepieces by hand in the era when light bulbs had not yet popularized. Entrée: A sumptuous multi-course Swiss cuisines complete with champagnes, wines and spirits How can you better appreciate the finest Swiss Made timekeeping marvels after a long hard day of work? Of course not before feasting on some delicious Swiss cuisines and heightening the senses with some 'spirits'! AP sure knew what to do… Bon-appetit! Main Course: A gala buffet of AP Grand Complications, Minute Repeaters, Toubillons, Split-second Chronographs, Jumping Hours, etc. Unlike most of the brand events which are largely marketing rah-rah, AP did it differently this time by bringing in their Head of Product Management Mr. Claudio Cavaliere to explain the history and technical details of the complicated watches at several intervals of the dinner. Claudio mingled around answering questions from curious guests, while Oliviero and other AP SG team members like Bindy, Jeremy, Teresa and Ilyia were busy entertaining customers and friends. Oliviero was the host cum emcee of the night Claudio and guests Claudio explained the Grande Complication Naturally, the highlight of the day was the showcase of many rare complications. It was really special and fascinating to be able to get up close and personal with so many dream pieces, some of them are priced in excess of half a million dollars! What a head-spinning buffet of beautiful openworks, crisp ding-ding tunes of the minute repeaters, graceful oscillation of the toubillons, glittering jewels endowing the ladies' timepieces, and the sheer weight of precious metals encasing those complicated movements. All these, together with the interactions with Claudio, brought the appreciation of the brand's technical prowess to a new level. Sharing here are photos of some high-end pieces which I managed to capture under a dimly lit condition. There were more monster watches (in terms of complication and price, of course) such as the Millenary Carbon One, RG ROO Tourbillon Chronograph and Chronometer with AP Escapement being circulated around but I didn't manage to grab a shot of them. Let's make do... Jules Audemars Openwork Minute Repeater with Jumping Hour My most favorite watch of the night Royal Oak Equation Of Time in rose gold Royal Oak Extra Thin Tourbillon in stainless steel Royal Oak Openwork Perpetual Calendar in full platinum Even the LeBron James ROO made an appearance! A tray-full of high-end APs… There were a few more trays circulating around A lady's Millenary with gorgeous dial and beautiful diamond bezel and lugs An elegant rose gold lady's Jules Audemars The ever-popular lady's ROO with diamond-clad bezel Dessert: Attractive quiz prizes and door gifts, all exclusively AP Another interesting subevent was a quiz. Oliviero dished out a few trivial questions about AP that made everyone busy flipping any literature available on the table, or simply googling away on smartphones. All in the quest to win that solid Royal Oak wall clock! I'm most pleased to share with you some pictures of my winning prize! All in all, it was an enjoyable evening. My wife was still rather clueless about all the high complications after the dinner. But she left impressed nonetheless, with what she saw as "works of art". As for me, I left the dinner totally satisfied with the technical engagement of the brand, great meal with a wonderful host and some new friends (especially Jeff and his daughter), and of course the fantastic quiz prize and excellent door gifts. RO 14790 Tantalum/SS One of Oliviero's humorous remarks before he brought on Claudio kept on lingering in my mind: "You may have a lot of questions which I believe only Claudio can answer you, but I know there's one question I can answer you right now… There is NO DISCOUNT!". As humorous as it can be, there certainly is no discount on AP's commitment in bringing on good products and winning customers' trust after 138 long years. Looking forward to more excitement in the near future! RO 15202 Extra Thin 40th Anniversary Jumbo Thanks for reading!

13 November 2013, 07:31 AM	#14
bayerische "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Real Name: Andreas Location: Margaritaville Watch: Smurf Posts: 19,879	Would not have minded attending! __________________ Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

13 November 2013, 07:50 AM	#16
Psmith "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Clive Location: Exoplanet Watch: spring-driven Posts: 38,856	Most impressive! __________________

13 November 2013, 09:51 AM	#24
toph "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: ChrisTOPHer Location: Sydney Watch: Rolex, Brellum, Posts: 12,601	Impressive! Looks like a wonderful evening __________________ "Where no counsel is the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Member No.# 11795

13 November 2013, 09:57 AM	#25
FeelingTheBlues "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Carl Location: Always moving Watch: If you wish... Posts: 22,039	That vintage minute repeater is to die for! Thank you for sharing that great evening. __________________ 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

13 November 2013, 03:04 AM	#2
Mbbgysam 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: USA Posts: 1,065	Wow - sounds like a fantastic event! Thanks for sharing so many photos.

13 November 2013, 03:07 AM	#3
mike@ec "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Toronto Watch: Rolex Explorer II, Posts: 419	wow.. I wish I was invited to this event

13 November 2013, 03:18 AM	#4
HauteHorlogerie Banned Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: My house Watch: 519LN \| 64A Posts: 1,241	Amazing night! Congrats on that gorgeous wall clock!!!

13 November 2013, 03:20 AM	#5
psv 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA & France Posts: 11,078	Seems like a great evening!

13 November 2013, 03:21 AM	#6
Cru Jones 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Paris, France Posts: 35,300	wow wow wow, excellent. thanks for the pix and post!! and congrats on the win.

13 November 2013, 04:26 AM	#7
111forza "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: uk Posts: 2,668	WOW now thats what i call a night out Love your clock

13 November 2013, 05:27 AM	#8
woodsworth "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: 100 Acre Wood Posts: 959	I feel as if I attended the event, even though I was not lucky enough to be invited! Thanks a bunch, Wayne :D

13 November 2013, 05:33 AM	#9
RobearH Banned Join Date: May 2013 Real Name: Robear Location: Come and Take It! Watch: 126710 BLRO Posts: 1,632	Congrats on wonderful evening indulging amongst others who share a common passion.

13 November 2013, 05:42 AM	#10
kilyung 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cave Watch: Sundial Posts: 33,940	Fantastic!

13 November 2013, 06:05 AM	#11
diver2012 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: N/A Watch: N/A Posts: 1,373	Looks amazing. Would have given my right nut to have been there! That platinum perpetual calendar is

13 November 2013, 06:36 AM	#12
iLLGT2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Real Name: Martin Location: NY And FLA Watch: AP ROO Blue Scuba Posts: 2,695	INCREDIBLE! I hope to see some amazing pieces at the bal harbor event coming up,

13 November 2013, 06:47 AM	#13
travisb 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Real Name: Travis Location: FL / NYC Watch: Yes.. Posts: 33,489	Double WOW! Thanks for sharing the evening with us. Looks amazing!

13 November 2013, 07:36 AM	#15
Soly20 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2012 Real Name: Soly Location: UK/US Watch: Rolex, AP, PP Posts: 3,089	Sounds like a great evening. Nice pics. Thanks for sharing.

13 November 2013, 07:56 AM	#17
AK797 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Neil Location: UK Watch: ing ships roll in Posts: 59,369	fantastic for you.

13 November 2013, 08:07 AM	#18
h999r Banned Join Date: May 2011 Real Name: HR Location: Planet Earth Watch: -ing Barts. Posts: 4,244	very nice !

13 November 2013, 08:09 AM	#19
00pumpkin "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Real Name: Dustin Location: USA Posts: 1,980	That is amazing. I have to say I'm definitely jealous.

13 November 2013, 08:20 AM	#20
Jim12345 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Real Name: Jim Location: England Posts: 416	Amazing!! AP truly do it with great style. Great to see some very special watches. Fantastic report, I felt like I was there with you. Congrats on the awesome AP clock!!

13 November 2013, 08:56 AM	#21
SamGMT "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: Sam Location: Singapore Watch: Audemars Piguet Posts: 1,689	Awesome event! Congrats on your winning!!

13 November 2013, 08:59 AM	#22
Lamkyle "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Real Name: Kyle Location: HK Watch: Those from my wife Posts: 669	What a night!

13 November 2013, 09:45 AM	#23
singe89 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Real Name: Jim Location: Orange County, CA Watch: Rolex, AP & Patek Posts: 3,747	Very cool! AP puts on some outstanding events!!! Congrats on the clock. I'm so jealous...really want one for my office. Thanks for all the quality pics so I can feel like I was there to share in the experience. Really wish my schedule allowed me to attend the upcoming NY event. If any of you are attending please take some pics to share with us that cant make it.

13 November 2013, 10:21 AM	#26
benlee "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Real Name: Ben Location: SIN & JKT Watch: Rolex, AP, PP Posts: 9,874	So you were their official event photographer? The food looks only so-so but the watches are nice. Really lovely photos taken. Excellent shot of the RG EOT. The Platiinum RO openworks looks exciting too. AP however is overdue for a refresh of all their 42mm ROOs and come up with their own in-house chronograph with a display back. Hope that happens in SIHH 2014. I wonder if attending the event obligates all guests to wear an AP? Or they can wear a competitor's brand? Nice wall clock! Unfortunately the screws are not made of white gold but hey, it's free! Congrats!

13 November 2013, 10:27 AM	#27
conkers "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Real Name: Roger Location: Hong Kong Watch: Too many! Posts: 6,116	Looks good. AP are hosting a big one in HK on 28th, although sadly they have had to move it from the 3 Michelin Star Joel Robuchon!

13 November 2013, 11:10 AM	#28
B. Doggy "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Real Name: Bryan Location: Oregon Posts: 7,399	Oh man!! __________________ Rolex / Panerai / Omega

13 November 2013, 11:34 AM	#29
HL65 TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Ken Location: SW Florida Watch: One on my wrist. Posts: 64,006	Very cool!! Thanks for sharing...Cheers, __________________ *SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT*

13 November 2013, 11:55 AM	#30
ik2000 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 4	I agree, the Jumping hour.... is a phenomenal watch. Did you also manage to see the Jules Audemars skeleton tourbillon too? I really wish AP would elevate the JA line as much as the RO and especially ROO line. The have some of the most heavyweight and technically sublime pieces I have ever seen from any brand (great that you managed to try the jumping hour on the wrist). The Equation of time in skeleton and non skeleton format is just amazing. As you can tell, I am a huge fan of the line! Thanks again for the pics.

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