Audemars Piguet - Honoured at the GPHG 2009
A fine gift for Philippe Merk, who in just a few days will be celebrating his first year at the helm of the company.
The 9th edition of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, held in the city's Grand Theâtre, was attended by many avid fine watchmaking enthusiasts. The ceremony began with a piece of classical music, before raising the veil on the year's most beautiful horological creations. The appreciative audience was thus able to admire a stunning array of daring and exclusive timepieces.
The Jules Audemars watch with Audemars Piguet escapement, generally referred to as CHRONOAP, caught the eye of the eminent jury members of this 9th Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix.
The Audemars Piguet escapement presented in 2006 runs lubricant-free and is both extremely efficient and shock-resistant. It even surpasses expectations, in that its technical performances are matched by an exceptional frequency of 43,200 vibrations per hour (6 Hz). By beating twice as fast as usual, the balance ensures enhanced chronometry and improved reliability. This high-precision mechanism is house within a three-dimensional platinum case designed to highlight the movement decoration and finishing, inspired by the grand watchmaking tradition.
In his acceptance speech, Audemars Piguet CEO Philippe Merk warmly thanked the company's teams in both Le Brassus and Le Locle who made this feat possible. He saluted the work and the talent of the movement designers and master-watchmakers in their constant quest for horological innovation.
The CHRONOAP watch also won the Asian Edition Public Prize awarded during the Asia Watchmaking Grand Prix exhibition held in Singapore this September. This model has also earned other distinctions, including the best "Horological Value" prize presented at the 3rd edition of the Tiempo de Relojes award in Mexico this October; as well as the "Best Complicated Watch" prize at the ceremony organised by VOGUE Spain.