The latest from Audemars Piguet is their vibrant ladies watches that bring together haute couture and haute horlogerie. The result is four new Royal Oaks in assorted colours and materials - each piece standing out with its own design. 

The Audemars Piguet partnered with fashion photographer Harley Weir to capture the bond between a woman and her watch. If you have ever visited Weir's Instagram profile, then you already know her work is bold, beautiful, and intimate. Seeing the new  Audemars Piguet's ladies watches through her lens is a look not just into the timepieces but also her passion for gritty frames and curiosity for the art of watchmaking.

The visually striking shoot by the British photographer brings out the best of compositions and colours of the feminine pieces. From ceramic to frosted gold, the varied collection is an interesting mix of Audemars Piguet's traditions and contemporary design philosophy. 

Royal Oak Selfwinding Black Ceramic

Crafted in black ceramics, this Royal Oak is for the smaller wrists. The timepiece comes housed in a 34mm black ceramic case with 18K pink gold screws, glareproofed sapphire crystal, and titanium caseback. Its black aesthetic, especially its black dial, instantly captures your attention. The dial, with pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, has been embellished with a Grande Tapisserie pattern.

Beating inside this black Royal Oak is the Selfwinding Calibre 5800 movement that delivers a power reserve of around 50 hours. The watch, water resistant up to 50 metres, has been paired with a black ceramic bracelet with an AP folding clasp.

Royal Oak Selfwinding Frosted Gold

Second in line is a simple yet charming Royal Oak that finds its shimmer in frosted gold. This shimmering material is a result of a collaboration between Audemars Piguet and Italian jewellery designer Carolina Bucci in 2016. The frosted gold finishing makes this timepiece imaginative especially when the glow meets the subtle blue the dial features. This Royal Oak finds its home in a 34mm 18K white gold case with glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback; water resistant up to 50 metres. 

Its light blue dial with Grande Tapisserie pattern definitely steals the show in the looks department. The watch has been offered on an 18K white gold bracelet with an AP folding clasp. The timepiece is driven by the Selfwinding Calibre 5800 movement - the same driving the Royal Oak in black ceramic. 

Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph Amethyst

This new Royal Oak finds its best friends in lights and colours. It is for the first time Audemars Piguet has presented a timepiece in solid 18K pink gold with baguette-cut amethysts glittering on its bezel. Amethysts are a type of mineral that come in different shades of purple. The exciting timepiece features a 38mm case in 18K pink gold with 32 baguette-cut amethysts bezel, glareproofed sapphire crystal, and screw-locked crown.

One of its prominent features is also its purple dial with Grande Tapisserie pattern, purple chronograph counters, 18K pink gold applied hour-markers, and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. The watch comes paired with an 18K pink gold bracelet with an AP folding clasp. The Selfwinding Calibre 2385 movement beating inside delivers a power reserve of around 40 hours.

Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked

Audemars Piguet not finishing the collection off with an openworked timepiece will be a bummer, right? Yes, the last in the collection is the Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked which flaunts a rainbow bezel composed of multicoloured gemstones. This model is offered in three 41mm references and two 37mm references. 

The Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked's frosted gold case and bracelet are a perfect match for its rainbow-coloured gemstones - a visual delight indeed.

Making their debut in the collection are also frosted gold models in yellow and pink gold. The models in yellow, pink or white frosted gold case and bracelet find their contrast in the openworked movement’s slate grey NAC-coated bridges and augmented by the dial’s black inner bezel.

The 37mm models on the other hand are offered in 18K pink and yellow gold. Both the variations flaunt a matching pink or yellow gold-toned openworked movement that looks lively when coupled with the blackened openworked barrel at 1 o’clock which discloses the watch’s mainspring.

Both the 41mm and 37mm models are driven by the Selfwinding Calibre 3132 movement that churns out a power reserve of around 45 hours.

'DESIRE INSIDE'
The new collection finds inspiration in the contemporary woman. This along with the craftsmanship inspired Weir to yet again do the magic with her camera. "My inspiration for the shoot was to think about the way the watch was made and its different materials and then think about how the woman is made, what is part of her personality, what is her character, who she is... fashion has always intrigued me as well in that sense, building your character. I love this idea that people wear part of themselves visually, so the people can show on their bodies what they desire inside," says the fashion photographer.