Audemars Piguet continues to break watchmaking codes with its new watch [RE]Master02.

At the beginning of the 1970s, Audemars Piguet shook the established rules by unveiling its Royal Oak. A luxury watch in steel with a unique design initially perceived as an incongruity, now iconic to many enthusiasts.

But before that, the Brassus brand also demonstrated its penchant for unconventional watches with its Model 5159BA. It’s this particularly distinctive asymmetrical watch that it is reinterpreting today through the limited edition [RE]Master02.

Audemars Piguet dives back into its archives with its [RE]Master collection

It was in 2020 that Audemars Piguet launched its [RE]Master collection. The Swiss brand took advantage of the opening of its new Atelier Museum in Brassus to dive back into its archives and reinterpret some of its models. And not necessarily the most well-known ones, as evidenced by the presentation of the [RE]Master01, a watch inspired by a rare chronograph from 1943.

This model, released in 500 copies, marked a return to the roots with its two-tone design in steel and rose gold, and a luminous gold dial. The [RE]Master01 combines a vintage aesthetic with modern watchmaking technologies, such as the Calibre 4409 chronograph movement, visible through a sapphire back, thus symbolizing the tradition and innovation cherished by the Manufacture.

Naturally, this experimentation could not remain without a sequel, especially in view of the positive reactions it has aroused. Audemars Piguet therefore goes in search of a new emblematic timepiece of its time to expand its [RE]Master collection and so today arrives the aptly named [RE]Master02.

An asymmetrical watch designed as a tribute to brutalist architecture

After the 1940s, Audemars Piguet offers us a new journey back in time, in another decade. The [RE]Master02 is a bold reinterpretation of the Model 5159BA born in 1960, characterized by its asymmetrical design and brutalist influences.

From 1959 to 1963, the Brassus house launched more than 30 asymmetric models and almost all were made in less than 10 copies. Thus, only 7 pieces of this reference 5159BA were produced, contributing to its aura among knowledgeable collectors. Today, Sébastian Vivas, director of the Museum and Heritage of Audemars Piguet, presents the [RE]Master02 as “a fantastic opportunity to revive this forgotten golden age”.

This new model features a 41mm asymmetrical rectangular box in 18-carat sand gold, a unique alloy that oscillates between white gold and rose gold depending on the light. This shade, inspired by sand dunes, is achieved through a blend of copper and palladium and has recently made an appearance on the Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon.

The fragmented dial “Blue Night, Cloud 50”, composed of 12 triangles decorated with a linear satin finish, creates unique light and texture effects. Each element of the dial is separated by partitions in sand gold, enhancing the geometric and brutal aesthetics of the whole. The absence of indices and date indication allows for a simplified reading of the time, accentuated by the diagonals that cross this geometric dial combining circle, rectangle, and triangle.

Underneath this distinctive design lies the Calibre 7129, an ultra-thin automatic movement ensuring the precision and reliability of the timepiece. Inspired by the Calibre 7121 introduced in 2022, it benefits from optimized construction for improved performance and a 52-hour power reserve. The central oscillating weight, in 22-carat gold, is finely decorated and visible through the sapphire back.

Audemars Piguet announced that only 250 copies of this [RE]Master02 will be made. With a price set at 47,100 euros, this watch has everything to become a real collectible piece… while waiting for the launch of a [RE]Master03 and the exploration of a new decade for the Swiss brand?