Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet rides a wave of success

On February 1, Audemars Piguet invited a few friends of the brand to the prestigious Grand Hotel Park in Gstaad. The Manufacture of Le Brassus had two reasons to celebrate: the launch of the Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat chronograph and the opening of a new boutique in the hotel.

The link between the launch of a new product and the opening of a new boutique may not be apparent at first glance. However, the common denominator in this case is first-class yachtswoman Dona Bertarelli Späth, the person who put together the all-women Ladycat crew to compete in the regattas of the Challenge Julius Baer. The Audemars Piguet name has graced Alinghi sails since 2002 and the Manufacture was drawn to Ms Bertarelli Späth's ambitious project from the outset, immediately agreeing to support the team. In addition to lending its technical prowess, Audemars Piguet was keen to promote the message Ms Bertarelli Späth was seeking to convey: sailing is a sport that requires stamina, agility, precision and coordination—all qualities brilliantly demonstrated by women. With this in mind, Ms Bertarelli Späth made it her goal to both highlight the peerless skills of competitive female sailors and make the public more aware of cardiovascular disease among women. The Grand Hotel Park in Gstaad joined Audemars Piguet in sponsoring the magnificent Décision 35 Ladycat (SUI10) catamaran and with the opening of the new boutique the two partners further strengthened the synergy of their partnership. The tiny 8m² showcase is the brand's smallest outlet, yet the architects succeeded in incorporating Audemars Piguet's hallmark features through the use of wood, natural Jura stone, glass and wengé to create an overall feeling of elegance and understatement.

In tribute to the Ladycat team, Audemars Piguet created a chronograph that reflects the catamaran's fuchsia and black colors. The Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat is a limited series of 150 watches, conveying a true sporting pedigree, made for women not afraid of bold combinations: diamonds and rubber; elegance and athleticism.

The Manufacture fully subscribes to the cause of Dona Bertarelli Späth who through this sporting endeavour is supporting the "Go Red for Women" campaign, aimed at raising public awareness of cardiovascular diseases among women. Brand CEO, Georges-Henri Meylan, is closely involved in the project: "We are very happy to contribute to the efforts of the Ladycat team in making people more aware of the main cause of death among women: cardiovascular disease. Women face increasing demands in today's society. Their lifestyle has changed and they now often have to juggle a number of roles as both mothers and professionals. This makes them all the more vulnerable to cardiovascular problems. It is vital that we get that message across."

Le Brassus, February 1, 2008

Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat chronograph - Technical specifications

Reference:
26266SK.ZZ.D069CA.01
Stainless-steel case: 37mm in diameter
Limited series of 150 numbered watches

Movement: Caliber: 2385 self-winding

Case: Back engraved with the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat; water-resistant to 50 meters

Dial: Black "Méga Tapisserie" guilloche motif; pink applied hour-markers; silver-colored counters

Bracelet: Pink rubber; AP folding clasp in polished steel

Functions: Hours and minutes; small seconds; chronograph with central second hand; 30-minute and 12-hour counters; date

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Founded in 1875 by Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet in the Swiss village of Le Brassus, Audemars Piguet is the oldest Manufacture of Haute Horlogerie never to have left the hands of the founding families. Today, its range encompasses complex mechanical watches, Haute Joaillerie creations as well as a line of jewellery. At each stage in its history, the Manufacture has daringly adopted avant-garde techniques in order to place them in the service of traditional craftsmanship. This approach has earned it an unparalleled number of world firsts in the field of Haute Horlogerie. It currently employs over 1000 people worldwide and achieved a turnover of 530 million Swiss francs in 2007.