News 
Audemars Piguet revealed its new collaboration with American designer Matthew Williams, founder of the brand 1017 ALYX 9SM. To mark the occasion, four new Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore references and a one-of-a-kind Royal Oak are being launched simultaneously. The timepieces combine the recognisable aesthetic codes of the Manufacture with the designer’s refined touch.
Matthew Williams sees the watch as an expression of who you are. For this collaboration, the Manufacture and the designer have developed a collection with a minimalist aesthetic composed of several references ranging from 37 to 42mm. Adaptable to all wrist types, these understated timepieces let the owner’s personality shine through and constitute a bridge between the worlds of fashion and Haute Horlogerie.
The four references come in 18-carat yellow or white gold and comprise two Royal Oak models and two Royal Oak Offshore models of different diameters. This is the first time that the same design has been developed for both collections simultaneously. In an effort to make the aesthetics as clean and pure as possible, Matthew Williams and Audemars Piguet have reduced the dials to their simplest form, removing the hour-markers and the date aperture on the Royal Oak models to highlight the elegant vertical satin-finishing decorating the gold dials. The result is timeless monochrome timepieces that blend refined aesthetics with advanced watchmaking techniques.
In addition to these four models, the designer and the Manufacture have created a unique Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph piece. This 41mm model has a two-tone case and bracelet, combining 18-carat yellow gold and stainless steel. This marriage of materials is contrasted with a black PVD-coated gold dial adorned with vertical satin-finishing. The dial also includes the signatures of both brands.
The auction of this one-of-a-kind timepiece took place on 24 August, during the launch party of the collaboration between Audemars Piguet and 1017 ALYX 9SM, in Tokyo. The funds raised will be donated to projects aimed at supporting play-based learning initiatives in favour of disadvantaged children, notably through the actions of the NGOs Kids in Motion and Right to Play.
September 21, 2023