Fans of Audemars Piguet can now visit the horology house’s brand new museum, the Musée Atelier, in Le Brassus. The museum, following its opening in June 2020, offers a chance to uncover the brand’s heritage and craftsmanship, with over 300 watches on display.
The Musée Atelier’s architecture, designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), is also of interest. The museum’s glass, spiral-shaped pavilion links to the original house where Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet set to work back in 1875. With its curved glass walls and grassy spiral steel roof, it is the first building of its kind to exist at such an altitude. Meanwhile, the roof aims to mirror the design of a balance spring.
Over the years, the brand has specialised in the likes of perpetual calendars, chronographs and chiming watches. Audemars Piguet’s vintage chronograph wristwatches are among the rarest in the world. Nevertheless, ten such watches are available for viewing at the Musée Atelier. Meanwhile, other unique examples include the King of Persia’s Audemars Piguet from 1884, and the 1964 ‘Knife watch’, featuring a case as thin as a knife. It also houses the 1899 Universelle pocket watch. With 21 functions and 13 hands, it is the most complicated timepiece that Audemars Piguet has created to date.
Visitors also have the opportunity to see fine watchmaking in action. Audemars Piguet decorates, adjusts, assembles and cases its Grande Complication watches on site. Such watches are on display at the very heart of the museum. Furthermore, the watchmakers can be observed at work throughout the spiral museum, for example in the Tourbillon Workshop, the Restoration Workshop, or the Metier d’art Workshop.
The Musée Atelier is accessible by car or public transport. It also provides disabled access throughout the building. Tours are conducted in small groups of around six. Finally, tickets are bookable in advance, with a starting price of 20 CHF.
Amidst the sound of birds chattering and water splashing comes the sound of soft chimes, sounding repeatedly – almost as though someone was soulfully playing percussion, while wandering through tranquil surroundings. But it's not a musical instrument we can hear – it’s acoustic watches. Catherine Rénier, CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, is playing us a video via…
Where best to celebrate the beginning of summer than by the sea? For fifteen days in mid-June, Richard Mille will host its very own regatta on both sides of the Channel for the first time. The first edition of the Richard Mille Cup takes place from the 10th to the 25th June and many more…
The trading of pre-owned watches has exploded in recent years – and this upward trend is still ongoing. In a recent industry report, Deloitte predicts that the annual turnover with pre-owned watches will increase from the current 20 billion Swiss francs to 35 billion Swiss francs by 2030. This means that the market for pre-owned…
Richard Mille and Ferrari are announcing plans to come together and embark upon a brand new, long-term partnership. Ferrari recently ended its collaboration with Hublot. However, the long-term partnership between Richard Mille and McLaren will nevertheless continue. The partnership is sure to include a number of exciting collaborations. This will include the likes of Formula…
TAG Heuer returns to Formula 1 as the official timekeeper in 2025, coinciding with the league's 75th anniversary and replacing Rolex as sponsor after ten years. The partnership, which began in the 1960s, has seen Heuer and later TAG Heuer involved in various capacities, including sponsorships and timekeeping. With a rich history in motorsport, the…
Independent watchmaker Ressence and Sotheby’s Watch Division are joining forces against coronavirus (Covid-19) and launch a competition to design a unique watch. Watch enthusiasts have the chance to create their own interpretation of one of Ressence’s latest models, the Type 1 Slim. A new face for the unique piece of Ressence's Type 1 Slim in…
Only a few weeks ago, the Swatch Group announced the cancelation of their new fair “Time To Move” – and now, also the new format “Watches & Wonders Geneva” (formerly SIHH) will not take place from April 25th to 29th 2020. The final decision of Baselworld fair remains to be seen. Due to the latest…
On 2 October 2024, what had long been speculated became reality: LVMH and Formula 1 announced their partnership. In this year, as Formula 1 celebrates its 75th anniversary, the global alliance marks not only the end of an era but also the beginning of a new chapter. This deal also signifies the conclusion of the…
Independent watchmaker Oris is introducing a new calibre, entirely created in-house – the Oris Calibre 400. Watchmakers at the Swiss horology house based near Basel have created a movement that is highly efficient and highly anti-magnetic. The other big news is that the watches using the movement will only requires 10-year servicing intervals. New Movement,…
As the sponsor of this year’s German Polo Tour – held from May to September in different places – Jaeger-LeCoultre will gift a Reverso Classic Large Small Seconds to the winner of the tour. Since 1931 the watch manufacture is closely connected to polo sports. The polo players of the British army in India needed a watch, that…
The La Chaux-de-Fonds-based watch brand Corum is celebrating its 70th birthday this year with a very special surprise. Following a management buy-out, the company is once again 100 per cent under Swiss management. Golden Bridge Serpent from 2024 Corum stands for unusual designs as well as innovative technologies. Examples include the Golden Bridge with a…
The first Rolex boutique in Germany opened in 2009 at Number 184 on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin, together with its long-standing partner jeweller Wempe. After several months of renovation, the boutique is making its comeback, shining in new splendour. Wempe was the first jeweller to sell Rolex watches in Germany in the 1950s, after Hellmut Wempe…