Aesthetic appreciation of the Audemars Piguet Millenary skeleton mechanical watch

　　The beauty of a mechanical watch depends on the original intent of its design, which can often be categorised. Some brands prefer to create poetic and picturesque imagery, others excel in minimalist, pragmatic realism, while some revere the mysterious power of mechanical origins. A high-end watch manufacturer deep in the Swiss Vallée de Joux has left us a precious legacy of horological art over the past one hundred and forty years, thanks to skilled craftsmanship and ingenious mechanical design. In 2016, this high-end watchmaker introduced a brand-new timepiece, using a skeletonised approach to showcase the scientific concepts and artisanal artistry contained within the mechanics.Audemars PiguetMillenary skeleton mechanical watch, model 15352OR.OO.D093CR.01. Let us now appreciate the aesthetic appeal of this timepiece together.

　　Introduction to the Audemars Piguet Millenary skeleton mechanical watch

　　We love to be unconventional and distinct, leaving a lasting impression of rare oval watches. Perhaps this is one aspect of why the Audemars Piguet Millenary collection first achieved success; yet rather than resorting to gimmicks, Audemars Piguet redesigned the movement to establish this collection as an essential member of the haute horlogerie sanctuary. This year, Audemars Piguet breaks new ground once again by shifting its focus to the other side of complex craftsmanship: skeletonisation. Skeletonisation is not difficult; what is difficult is how to make it delicate, aesthetically pleasing, secure and reliable. Most of us may have seen skeleton watches, but very few truly achieve a pleasing visual harmony.

　　Compared to the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet's most renowned collection, the Millenary shares brand representation while leaning more towards tradition—a tradition that is often easy to accept, yet equally easy to fade into obscurity. Audemars Piguet has numerous traditional watches, so the Millenary needed to be somewhat different. Consequently, Audemars Piguet placed the balance wheel independently on one side of the dial. Nobody expected that this unique characteristic would allow the Millenary collection to remain popular to this day. This new watch undergoes deep skeletonisation and manual decorative finishing based on the original movement, effectively playing down the functional attribute of time indication to highlight the ingenuity and three-dimensionality of the mechanical structure.

　　Naturally, clear legibility remains the primary functional element of a watch. To this end, Audemars Piguet uses pink gold for the hands and hour markers, with polished surfaces. Under different angles, the interwoven visual impact not only ensures accurate time display but also creates two completely distinct visual interface effects, inviting you to appreciate every detail of the watch from multiple angles.

　　The design of the Millenary collection is unique, yet what often leaves a deep impression is merely its movement and dial layout, whereas the traditional case shape lacks the rigid yet supple definition of its movement. Retaining a traditional case profile comprising an upper bezel, middle case and lower caseback, the fuller lines exhibit a composed and steady character.

　　Owing to its distinct positioning, the Millenary collection typically features leather or other soft straps. This timepiece is fitted with a black alligator leather strap paired with a pink gold folding clasp. The characteristic of alligator leather lies in its suppleness, while its special texture is ideally suited for expressing style.

　　In view of the outstanding 3D three-dimensional design movement, although the watch lacks unusual complications, it still occupies considerable space, bringing the overall thickness of the watch to 13 mm.

　　Unlike the Millenary watches released in previous years, this new creation features a high degree of skeletonisation, allowing every part of the pure mechanical construction to be examined more directly, which holds immense appeal for mechanical enthusiasts. Correspondingly, this raises the requirements for structural decorative aesthetics, elevating the charm of the watch to new heights.

　　Perhaps the most captivating aspect of the Millenary collection is its distinct protruding balance-wheel and hairspring assembly. This has become the signature design of the collection, surpassing methods that merely rely on viewing windows. Furthermore, the high-precision variable-inertia balance wheel symbolising haute horlogerie, diamond-polished bridge bevels and free-sprung balance allow one to fully appreciate Audemars Piguet's respect for detail.

　　While its three-dimensional and mechanical structures have been emphasised throughout, viewing from one side of the dial only reveals a small portion; the true essence requires turning the watch over to examine every detail on the reverse of the movement. Many movements simply lack sufficient thickness to support a three-dimensional effect, making it unachievable even with skeletonisation. This Cal.4105 movement employs a bidirectional automatic winding structure, with the manufacture skeletonising each of its bridges and using predominantly curved edges so that the overall structure resembles a winding corridor. Some attribute a strong architectural aesthetic to it, and I believe this is well-founded.

　　As for watches, given modern manufacturing standards, the difference between clasps is no longer substantial; rather, the chosen style alters the wearing sensation. It has often been said that a pin buckle is the finest style—presumably true for dress watches—yet this watch employs a folding clasp, adopting the pin-style adjustment for effective strap length to combine the best of both worlds, making it a commendable choice.

　　Having seen this, I recommend a popular bestselling Audemars Piguet watch. Friends who want to know more can add WeChat to consult.

　　Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Series Watch 15400OR.OO.D002CR.01

　　Review:

　　◆ The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak series 41 mm large case possesses a unique contemporary character.

　　◆ Equipped with a Citizen 9015 mechanical movement to provide a precise timekeeping experience.

　　◆ Features an octagonal bezel that creates a subtle contrast between brushed and polished finishes, secured by 8 hexagonal screws just like white gold.

　　◆ Equipped with a screw-locked crown, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback.

　　A water resistance of 50 metres easily handles daily water exposure.

　　Paired with a calfskin strap, it balances a masculine edge with refined elegance, making it ideal for men.

　　Summary: With skilled craftsmanship and clever mechanical structure design, Audemars Piguet leaves us with a precious horological heritage. The Audemars Piguet watches recommended here feature fine workmanship and guaranteed quality. If you wish to purchase, please add WeChat to enquire.

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