Greubel Forsey's tagline is "the art of invention," and its iconoclastic architecture straddles the intersection of sculpture and engineering. But it's a very thin line on which to balance. While the brand's timepieces do have an avant-garde visual flair, they're always tempered by chronograph function, creating a gorgeous yet restrained tension between visual beauty and wearing purpose.
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The Ultimate Guide to Audemars Piguet Reference Numbers in 2024
Audemars Piguet is one of the to-days top replica watches luxury companies, and its iconic Royal Oak collection is widely regarded one of the true icons with the watch world. In addition to being used often by professional athletes and superstars alike, Audemars Piguet watches are also highly collectible, in fact it is not uncommon for some watches to alter hands for six-figure chunks. Everyone is familiar with Audemars Piguet and has heard of the Royal Oak; however , to truly understand nuances of this historic Swiss brand’s collection, you first need to master how to decipher Audemars Piguet reference numbers.
While Audemars Piguet watches tend to be referred to by their product names, each watch may be more accurately described by it is reference number, which is a series of letters and numbers that the brand assigns with each watch. While they may resemble a random combination of characters, Audemars Piguet reference numbers are actually a total description of their respective design, and every letter or amount is important. Even without seeing an image of the watch, an Audemars Piguet reference number alone will be able to tell you the specific model as well as the materials used in its production, as well as the type of bezel, strap/bracelet, and even details about the call it comes with.
Why Audemars Piguet Reference Numbers Are So Important In everyday conversation, a lot of people refer to an Audemars Piguet watch by its type number or nickname, although these abbreviations rarely totally describe the watch. For example , vintage 39mm Royal Oak “Jumbo” has been around since 1972 and possesses been produced in several different constructions over the years. Therefore , this information alone does not reveal some other relevant details about the high quality watches replica , such as the number of “Jumbo” or maybe the materials used for its well-known octagonal case and built-in bracelet.
That is why, to discuss Audemars Piguet watches more fully and in more detail, lovers refer to their reference numbers, which usually follow a consistent format in addition to convey all the relevant information regarding their respective models. Inside current catalog alone, Audemars Piguet offers several different editions of the 18k white gold Supérieur Oak “Jumbo”, and even the complete ice model with a stone bezel and matching diamond-set bracelet is available in two diverse dials. Rather than saying you have a current generation white gold Suprême Oak “Jumbo” with a gemstone bezel, blue “Petite Tapisserie” dial, and matching diamond-set white gold bracelet, simply expressing you own reference number 16202BC.ZZ.1241BC.02 would express all the same information.
About Audemars Piguet Reference Numbers It’s worth noticing that Audemars Piguet has not always used this reference point numbering system. For example , during the 1970s, case material codes have been added to the brand’s numbering system, and the root client name increased from four to five chiffre in the mid-1980s. Additionally , starting up in the early 2000s, Audemars Piguet began to gradually put additional sections and requirements to its numbering technique to provide information about finishes, precious stone settings, bracelet or straps options, and even the type of face that fits the watch.
Section 1: Root Guide and Case Material The 1st section of an Audemars Piguet reference number consists of five amounts and two letters. The particular numbers represent the watch’s root reference number, while the a couple letters represent its materials. For example , ref. 16202 could be the classic 39mm “Jumbo” Royal Oak Large with time as well as date display, although Audemars Piguet offers this observe in a number of different materials, and so ref. 16202ST is the steel version, while ref. 16202BA is the yellow gold version and also ref. 16202OR is the rose gold colored version. replica Bell and Ross BR 05 watch
Part 2: Bezel Type The second part of a Audemars Piguet reference number talks about the type of bezel the watch is usually fitted with, indicated by 2 letters after the root reference and the material code. Like the Royal Oak “Jumbo” in white gold has many different versions, so while ref. 16202BC. OO is the model with a standard gold viser, ref. 16202BC. ZZ could be the white gold “Jumbo” with a diamonds bezel.
Portion 3: Bracelet Type along with Material The third a part of an Audemars Piguet client number consists of four digits in addition to two letters. Similar to the origin reference number section, the number represents the type of strap or pendant the watch comes with, while the a couple of letters indicate the elements used in the watch's structure. Watches of the same size as well as strap/bracelet style will reveal the first four digits of these strap/bracelet code; however , given that case size affects the actual strap or bracelet, the particular bracelet code for a 39mm stainless steel Royal Oak " Jumbo" will be different from the greater 41mm version, and the bracelets code for a diamond-set white gold or platinum " Jumbo" will be different from your standard white gold model as a result of diamonds on its backlinks.
Section 4: Dial Style Your fourth and final section of the Audemars Piguet reference number contains two digits that identify the dial that the view comes with. Similar to how Patek Philippe handles dial unique codes in its reference numbering process, the dial code employed by Audemars Piguet is determined by typically the iteration of the dial for this particular model, rather than the true style of the dial alone. For example , many different Royal Pine watches will share often the dial code " 02, " even though the appearance of the people dials can vary greatly, because this code simply describes the next dial variation for that certain model.
Audemars Piguet Reference Number Codes Every digit in an Audemars Piguet reference number is important, and also knowing the various codes connected with different parts can tell you a lot with regards to a timepiece. With that in mind, while some elements, such as bezel and substance codes, follow a very rigid system, others, such as underlying references and dial rules, can be a bit more fuzzy and therefore are largely determined by previous lets out in the collection.
The first five digits of your Audemars Piguet reference number (or four digits for antique replica watch review ), which serve as the fundamental reference, do not follow a standard code that can be applied to every model in its archives. However , there are a few common trends across the brand’s modern collections, and discovering these will allow you to easily discover certain models and styles involving watches.
For instance , when the fan-favorite Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” acquired a generational update inside 2022 to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the collection’s main reference number was updated coming from 15202 to 16202. Moreover, while reference 16202 is a classic 39mm time and date “Jumbo” in the current production catalog, the actual skeletonized 39mm “Jumbo” ultra-thin skeletonized model is referred to as referrals 16204. Being familiar with these developments will make it easier so that you can identify some of the more common products, although Audemars Piguet provides produced a wide variety of different sources throughout its history, consequently it’s not necessarily worth your time and energy to learn all of them.
In addition to all the classic materials like stainless steel, gold, platinum and titanium, Audemars Piguet has always experimented with many different other case materials, and looking out through the brand's archives you will find a wide variety of alloys, as well as carbon fibre and several different colors of porcelain. Moreover, the brand doesn't avoid using multiple materials in its watches, and when this happens, Audemars Piguet provides combination its own unique two-letter material code. As a result, quite a surprising number of case stuff codes, although many of them at the moment do not exist in the brand's modern catalog.
How to Read an Audemars Piguet Reference Number
The easiest way to read an Audemars Piguet reference number is to focus on the first section and proceed from left to proper, as each additional segment provides more detailed information. Oftentimes, you may only need to read the 1st section to determine the exact watch the reference number describes, since some models only are present in a single configuration.
For example , the Travis Martin Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Skeleton “Cactus Jack” Limited Edition is the brand’s simply watch produced in brown hard (at the time of writing), so while the model is definitely officially designated as name 26585CM. OO. D301VE. 01, you only need to see the “CM” in the first section of the particular reference number to know that it appertains to the Travis Scott version from the brand’s Skeleton Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar.
Once you’ve identified typically the model and its material, the next phase is to take a quick look at the board to verify the style most convenient the luxury fake watches . Since many Audemars Piguet models feature some type of brushed or finished bezel, you’ll typically begin to see the code “OO” used in this, with the only models that will consistently have a different frame code being those that incorporate some type of gem setting or maybe elaborately polished bezel.
Memorizing all the different limitations used for various straps, necklaces, and dials is probably not the use of time, though it may be still worth checking the two parts of a reference number for that additional information they provide. Simply ok whether the strap/bracelet code commences with a number or a page will confirm whether the enjoy comes with a strap or steel bracelet, while memorizing a few strap/clasp codes will let you know just what material the strap is constructed of and whether it has a flip-style or pin buckle. Alternatively, if this section begins using a number, it’s usually risk-free to assume that the unit comes with a matching bracelet manufactured from the same material as the circumstance.
The watch dial section of an Audemars Piguet reference number is arguably the least crucial, as many of the brand’s designs only come with one or two switch options. As such, you’ll generally see the dial code “01” or “02” for most in the brand’s watches, though it can still give you an idea connected with the variety within a given series. Certain models, such as the metal version of the 41mm exact date and time Royal Oak, have call codes of “07” as well as “09”, which represent often the wider range of dial shade options in the collection.
Finally, it’s well worth noting that Audemars Piguet’s reference numbering system has developed along with the brand, with fresh codes continually being included with the system as the Swiss maker is always experimenting with new resources. Just in the past few years, we’ve noticed several new materials added onto the line-up, such as dark chocolate brown ceramic, block steel glass, and the brand’s 18 carat sand gold alloy, all of these were accompanied by new content codes. In many ways, Audemars Piguet’s reference numbers are akin to any language, and by learning the principles that apply to their development and the various meanings from the numbers and letters, you can become experienced in this rather long pair of characters and instantly distinguish all the relevant details about virtually any Audemars Piguet high quality fake watches without even looking at it.