Glorious second life for the Millenary

TIME was of the essence at the recent launch of the latest Audemars Piguet wristwatch collection for ladies, held at Zense, the lofty gourmet lounge at CentralWorld’s Zen World.

The cocktail party introduced “The New Millenary for Women”, with Cortina Watch (Thailand) executive director Krist Chatikaratana presiding, and an appreciative crowd turned out.

Audemars Piguet – the Swiss manufacturer of luxury timepieces and one of the oldest family-owned watchmakers in the world – had Antonio Seward, its Southeast Asia manager, on hand to welcome guests including Rattanaprapa Disavatana, Cathleen Kichodhan, Thanong and Chompunuj Leeissaranukul, Orawan Ingkhasit, Kraiserm and Pavita Tohtubtiang, Buppa Kingchatchaval, Thitinart Na Pattalung, Panchalee Phenjati, Khunying Chodchoy Sophonpanich, Pattree Bhakdibutr and Rungnapa Kittivat.

Audemars Piguet has been creating exceptional timepieces for women for more than 130 years, combining the highest levels of craftsmanship and aesthetics. The new Millenary collection celebrates 20 years of this popular oval woman’s watch with a fresh line that was three years in the making, in which old-world artisanship meets new-world design.

The collection features a new hand-wound manufacture Calibre 5201 that perfectly fits the series’ 39.5-by-35.4-millimetre case, whose shape follows the curves of the wrist. The open-design movement reveals the balance wheel – the beating heart of the watch – offered in three different styles, each with its own special case, dial and strap.

The Millenary (Pink Gold) is in an 18-carat pink-gold case with a diamond-set bezel and lugs, a crown set with a pink cabochon sapphire, white mother-of-pearl off-centred disc, pink-gold hands, and a large, square, shimmering brown alligator strap. In all there are 116 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 0.60 carats, and trice is Bt981,000. 

The Millenary (White Gold) has all of the above on a beige alligator strap, with just as many diamonds, and costs Bt1,060,000.

The Millenary (White Gold) with a blue cabochon sapphire on the crown, a diamond-paved white-gold off-centred disc, mother-of-pearl small seconds counter, dark-grey alligator strap and 438 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.93 carats) on the case and buckle and 136 more (0.26 carats) on the dial is Bt1,865,000. 

Guests viewed an exhibition on the brand’s iconic timepieces over the years, on loan from its museum in Le Brassus, Switzerland, including rare intricate pieces like an Art Deco pocket watch from 1921, a Miniature wristwatch from 1941, and the Lady Royal Oak made in 1978.

Meanwhile DJ Kenny provided the music for socialising and for a performance by the dance duo Egg-Out.

There’s an Audemars Piguet boutique is on G Floor at Central Embassy. Call (02) 160 5838.