Immersive experience at Audemars Piguet

The Manufacture in Le Brassus has unveiled its very first Masterclass, entitled “Crack History’s Code”. This immersive experience is combined with a guided tour of the Musée Atelier. By plunging into the heart of the Audemars Piguet universe, the apprentice watchmakers for a day will realise the extent to which every detail can transform a functional object into a true work of art.

The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet was designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) and unifies the original workshop, established by Audemars Piguet’s founders in 1875, with a new all-glass structure, composed of two spirals seamlessly integrated into the existing landscape. Open to the public since June 2020, the Musée Atelier gives a unique perspective on the Vallée de Joux and its watchmaking history.

The showcases spanning over two centuries of history display more than 300 watches, including feats of complication, miniaturization and unconventional designs. These exceptional watches tell the story of how modest 19^th-century artisans from an isolated valley at the heart of the Swiss Jura produced creations that caught the eye of metropolitan clients abroad and continue to captivate watch enthusiasts today across the world.

In-situ production workshops are also interwoven with the museum’s spatial experience to bring visitors in close contact with the Manufacture’s craftspeople at work.

To complement this experience, Audemars Piguet now offers its visitors the opportunity to step into the shoes of a watchmaker for a few hours during a “Crack History’s Code” Masterclass. These workshops take place in the heart of the Founders’ House, a historical building dating from 1868 and entirely renovated. It was on the top floor of this building, where the light is most abundant, that Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet created their workshop in 1875. And it is in these same premises that the “apprentice watchmakers” taking part in the Masterclass will learn the basics of the watchmaking and decoration professions.

Limited to four participants and available by reservation only, its “Crack History’s Code” Masterclass will enable guests of all backgrounds to assemble one from the Manufacture’s historical watch movements under the guidance of an expert. Participants will also try their hand at refined decorations on a piece specifically designed for the occasion, which they will be able to take home as a souvenir. Watchmaking decorations embody a little-known art, often hidden at the heart of the watch. Numerous skills are required to achieve such meticulous work, where horological expertise and artisanship combine in aesthetic harmony. For more than two centuries, this seamless balance has been perfected by watchmakers of the Vallée de Joux to create beautiful objects, inside and out.

This immersive journey into the heart of Haute Horlogerie will thus enable guests to crack the code of a complex savoir-faire that Audemars Piguet has handed down across generations. At the end of this rich visit and initiation afternoon, the “apprentice watchmakers” will leave with a certificate attesting to their new skills and the piece they have decorated, a tangible souvenir of a unique experience. And this is just the beginning, as other themed Masterclasses will follow soon.

Complement to the Masterclass
If time permits, a visit to the restoration workshop, also located in the Founders’ House, represents a valuable addition to this rich experience. In the heart of this historical areas, the watchmakers receive vintage models – belonging to clients or bought at auction – which are completely reconstituted. Watch ‘heads’ and movements are completely dismantled and refurbished. It is sometimes even necessary to reconstitute certain components. This step requires vast, centuries-old expertise possessed by only a few individuals within the company. To assist them in their tasks, the watchmakers also have access to valuable archives, meticulously preserved over time.

May 12, 2021