Audemars Piguet

Pic credit to @horoloup

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This post really rubbed me wrong way. Is AP really letting people with a small instagram following post their latest and greatest creations with captions like that? Don't get me wrong the watch looks AMAZING!  BUT I want to learn as much about it as I can with tons of photos and technical information. I don't want to learn about it through some guy on instagram who's using fire emojis talking about how he "wet his pants". Anyone else feel the same way?

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In the old days I might receive a release or notice ahead of time. This is the world we live in, ultra fast communication and everything happens through social media. Obviously, the brand is not concerned with only partial information being available.
If I receive anything official, of course I will post it.

Long live our Moderators

I can't keep up with all the AP nuts worldwide, by all means post as you wish. Thanks Mo.

I understand, but I also believe that as the moderator for AP on a forum with a fairly large following (that's actually recognized by Audemars Piguet) that you probably would have been more careful with the wording of such a post rather than using emoji's and child like language to describe such an awesome and important watch (I'd say this is pretty important since its the first self winding concept tourbillon). From his previous posts it looks like he was probably in Le Brassus with Francois when he took the picture so I understand that Francois could have told him reluctantly he was allowed to post the photo, but I have also seen AP have photos removed from social media if posted before their official release.

You highlight a point which has become difficult for me. At PuristSPro, one of the very first rules I was given from Thomas Mao was that we always respect embargoes. We do not post a story, not even 1 minute early (can't say this about other competing websites). We try to do it right and complete. I can attest I have never violated this code, not a single time.
For a period, I was constantly removing posts on pieces I was told were under embargo, only to discover that AP had authorized someone else to release it. I have sort of given up on protecting new models and what is posted... if AP controlled the information, this would never be an issue.
So, on the contrary, I assume they prefer the buzz created when a guy posts something on IG or another outlet and then it spreads across the various channels. Once something is posted nowadays, there is no going back.

Regardless of how it was released, I think we can say that this is a very exciting piece.  The Self Winding Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon (ref.26550AU) is rarely seen but the forged carbon execution was just fantastic (I don't love the rose gold ones with the white dials because of the weight). The light weight case paired with the peripheral rotor exposed on the edges of the dial make it one of the coolest AP's on the market and this new piece looks like that on steroids in the concept case. I cannot wait to see press pictures, technical specs, and hopefully one day play with one in the metal. 

Francois invited me to a manufacture tour last week. When I first met him, I was adamant that they needed to change their concept in order to make it more wearable. He said that I was not the only one, and they were working hard on it, because at the end of the day, the customers are king (which is extremely refreshing to hear). After the manufacture tour, I was invited to have lunch in his office, and at that point, I was expecting nothing. After a wonderful lunch, he told me to cover my eyes and he put a watch from his drawer on my wrist. I was absolutely shocked when I saw the watch, because it was everything I (and a lot of AP enthusiasts alike) wanted. I was lost for words and was mesmerized by the dial and the peripheral oscillating rotor. He then told me to take as many photos as I want and that I could post it on my Instagram if I wanted to (obviously I wanted to!). I was just as shocked as you guys are that he allowed me to post it.

As I replied, I take no offense whatsoever. I have a busy work life, and a Family to look after, so I am all for you guys running with any bona fide information AP gives you. I only object when people post erroneous information or misleading information, as when maybe they see something but don't read or get the real facts, and then come here to be the town crier.

I will make a post here with all three photos and all the info I know regarding the new concept

On a serious note though you are right and not just AP all the last few pics I posted on the RM forum from the same source IG
I guess this could be the new norm

I think that's a different situation altogether because this will mean an entire new line of watches for AP. Those watches you posted are unique pieces that wont necessarily receive official press releases as they're probably done for individual customers or in the 27-02's case could possibly be Richard Mille having unused 27-02 movements lying around that they decided shove into 35-01 cases. I don't think those watches would ever make it into the public eye other than through outlets like instagram or here on The Purists, which as a collector is truly amazing we get to see stuff that we wouldn't ever see otherwise.

I get mad with my nieces because they don’t know how to write or spell correctly, and all of a sudden the youngsters substituted written language with emojis!!! 😜😫😔

But sadly like MichaelC said, I believe that with the explosion of social media and super fast information through this channels, who uploaded it first seems more important than to post real savory information with lots of professional pictures as well as real life ones.

Now the younger generation of watch lovers have this great responsibility to pick up the good way to share horological information the PuristsPro way, or to end with it. Of course this has nothing to do with our dear friend Mohannad, who gladly shared this interesting picture.

Or maybe we have the obligation to train a new generation of Purists? I would love my son Bruno, now 3 yo, to continue this great way of sharing. No one posts better than Nico, Baron, Blomman, Art, Cazalea, Bill and other great Purists in this forum (excuse me the rest of Grand Purists who I didn’t mention, since I’m writing their names from memory, but you know well who you all are). Or maybe the next generation of posters must also become proficient at social media like IG.

It’s up to us, maybe?

Anyway, my best regards to all of you!

René

Please read what I replied to HorologyMiami in his previous comments, but what I have to say is that Instagram is a more informal, casual form of mass communication where emojis are rampant and better express emotions with less characters. No one wants to read an extremely long caption, they just want to see gorgeous photos. I received over 50+ DM's regarding the watch and I replied to all of their questions regarding the new watch.

When we take a piece of information disregarding the context.

Anyway I hope my post was not aggressive and only expressed my opinion of what I would like to see/read at PuristsPro.

Best.

René

In my defence, I was filled with too many emotions to properly come up with a caption. I have been waiting for a comfortable, properly fitting concept for too long, and was ecstatic when Francois put it on my wrist. I apologize if my caption isn't to everyone's liking, but hey, social media has a more casual tone to it anyway, and since I'm a collector, and not the brand, I can say what I want, and I think it's pretty clear that I am absolutely in love with this new timepiece. I told everyone who DMed me on Instagram everything I will tell you below. Let's start.
First of all, this watch is amazing! It took AP over 2 years to develop and is made out of sandblasted titanium. Even though it is 44mm, the lugs are much shorter than the previous models, making it extremely comfortable on the wrist. Another note is that the glass and the bezel (even the case) is curved, unlike the previous flat bezel and glass, making the watch a lot more ergonomic. The watch has a peripheral oscillating self-winding rotor in platinum that can be seen on the dial, allowing full exposure of the beautiful APRP movement. The watch, obviously, is openworked tourbillon chronograph, and if I'm not wrong, is waterproof to 100m (it's also a screw down crown). Available in 3 colors (Baby blue, white, and red). I posted the white one on my instagram a few days ago (horoloupe) with a much more civil caption hahaha.

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Whatever the materials, it looks HOT!

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they made every single of his requests on his 1/1 ROO tourbillon expect ceremet bezel... so I think this one is sandblasted for the case and titanium for the bezel... would love that AP starts using ceremet again, it has ceramic scratch proof and look that suits APs better than the black one...

Returning to the main topic I hope I didn’t cause any offence to anyone here by posting pictures of my unique piece recently because it didn’t come through official channels. I did ask AP’s permission before I posted and they were very relaxed.

And just for good measure here are my platinum skeleton father and son.

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Check out a photo I posted 2 days ago. It's a photo of the concept in white (It's available in red, white, and baby blue), and it's right side up. Again, my instagram is: horoloupe

The best from AP, and I am in total agreement regarding the way it was premiered but per Michael - c'est la vie.... Cheers, Filip

Thanks for sharing

... sell everything and maybe buy only 1 or 2 watches...
I think the world is going mad, crazy, money has no value anymore, without mentioning that I have to work 10hrs a day to earn a fraction of this amount of money in one year of work...
Most probably watches became a toy for ultre billionaires, and unfortunately for me I’m not part of this club...
Btw maybe the only AP I would buy if I could, but I don’t... I prefer to leave some millions to my children...
best
Luca