Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie a Feat of Complication and Design

CODE 11.59 BY AUDEMARS PIGUET GRANDE SONNERIE CARILLON SUPERSONNERIE A FEAT OF COMPLICATION AND DESIGN

The Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer brings the striking clocks chimed time exclusively as they were Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection a step devoid of dials. Audemars Piguet has specialised in further with the release of five Grande Sonnerie Carillon chiming mechanisms since its establishment in 1875 Supersonnerie timepieces, each endowed with a and crafted complex Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie unique bespoke enamel dial crafted by Anita Porchet and Minute Repeater mechanisms ever since. Today, and her atelier. These refined wristwatches pay tribute only a handful of specialised watchmakers at to generations of craftspeople who have continuously Audemars Piguet are trained to assemble and adjust leveraged pioneering technologies, while never losing a Grande Sonnerie, which is considered as one of the sight of their ancestral craftsmanship. most sophisticated complications in the history of Haute Horlogerie. Chiming watches bring us back to the origins of time measurement devices: invented in the 14th century,

This unique dial crafted by Anita Porchet as part of the trilogy unites ancestral craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics. No hour-marker has been added to leave the artistic purity untouched. 2 To celebrate the complexity and rarity of Grande Sonnerie watches, Audemars Piguet has collaborated with renowned Swiss enameller artisan Anita Porchet on hand-crafted “Grand Feu” enamel dials. For the occasion, she created a trilogy of enamel dials decorated with antique gold spangles (“paillons”) over a century old, seamlessly blending ancestral savoir-faire and contemporary design. Anita Porchet’s artistic work and know-how have been praised by some of the most respected Haute Horlogerie manufacturers in Switzerland, her refined enamel dials adding an artistic touch to the complicated timepieces they adorn.

For the remaining two pieces, clients have the possibility of requesting a personalised enamel dial Trilogy of “Grand Feu” enamel dials crafted by Anita Porchet crafted by Anita Porchet’s atelier. and decorated with gold spangles over a century old.

Anita Porchet is meticulously applying thin layers of enamel to reach the desired graded hues of blue on one of the dials of the trilogy.

3 A REFINED COMPLICATION AT THE JUNCTION OF TRADITION AND INNOVATION

Close-up view of calibre 2956 (back side). The three hammers of the chiming mechanism are visible on the right-hand side of the balance wheel.

The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Grande Sonnerie Manufacture in 2015 in the Royal Oak Concept Carillon Supersonnerie houses a new hand-wound collection. This complex calibre of 489 components movement, calibre 2956, which unites the traditional testifies to Audemars Piguet’s uncompromising spirit. Grande Sonnerie complication with the patented Supersonnerie technology introduced by the

4 A Grande Sonnerie timepiece not only strikes the hour, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne quarters and minutes on request as a traditional (EPFL). Inspired by the sonic power of older minute minute repeater would do. Like a bell tower, it can also repeater watches as well as by the harmony of strike the hours and every quarter hour by default, musical instruments, a dedicated community of without any involvement from the wearer. A carillon watchmakers, technicians, academics and musicians means that the Grande Sonnerie Supersonnerie is reviewed the case construction to produce a new endowed with 3 gongs and hammers instead of 2 on chiming technology. a standard chiming watch and therefore strikes the quarter hour with three successive notes (high, middle, The Supersonnerie’s acoustic power, sound quality low) instead of two. In the Petite Sonnerie position, the and harmonic tone are granted by patented gongs watch chimes the hours only, while the automatic and case construction. The gongs are not attached chiming is deactivated in the silent mode. As for the to the mainplate, but to a new device acting as minute repeater mechanism, it can be activated by the soundboard, which improves sound transmission. wearer at any time. This innovative Supersonnerie technology also provides a sharper tempo. The added Supersonnerie mechanism grants this complicated wristwatch the acoustic performance of Hand-decorated to the slightest detail with refined pocket watches. This patented technology is the finishing techniques, calibre 2956 further blends result of 8 years of research in collaboration with the tradition and innovation.

“The Grande Sonnerie is the acme of chiming watches. Like an orchestra, the synchronisation of components has to be perfect to guarantee the automatic chiming of the hours and quarters. It took us 4 years to meet the challenge of combining this traditional mechanism with our Supersonnerie technology, which we endowed with the Carillon function (3 gongs).”

Lucas Raggi Development Director

5 DIALS BETWEEN ARTISANSHIP AND ART

“What fascinates me with this craft, is the 360° of possibilities and creations it offers, like a painter in front of a blank canvas. By collaborating with Audemars Piguet, I benefitted from a larger freedom in the exploration and contemporary reinterpretation of the ancestral ‘paillonné’ technique, which has provided me with an enriching vision.”

Anita Porchet Swiss Enameller

In a nod to the enamel Grande Sonnerie masterpieces Inspired by Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet’s that were crafted in the Vallée de Joux between the 18th unconventional design, Anita Porchet has explored new and 19th centuries, Audemars Piguet has collaborated creative possibilities by decorating each contemporary with Swiss artisan enameller Anita Porchet for the first “Grand Feu” enamel dial with antique hand-crafted gold time on a trilogy of “Grand Feu” paillonné enamel dials spangles, at least a century old. Each spangle was hand-crafted with ancestral savoir-faire and tools. meticulously cut and curved in thin gold leaves with antique tools and techniques—a craft no longer Each “Grand Feu” enamel dial is unique due to the perpetuated today. The enameller has carefully organic nature of its materials, as well as the hand incorporated each spangle by hand onto the dial’s manufacturing technique and distinctive cooking time. enamelled plate before fusion in the oven. The dial is A thin layer of glass sand mixed with water is applied by then covered with a thin layer of transparent enamel for hand on the gold dial, before being heated at more than a mirror polish finishing. 800°C in a dedicated oven. The procedure is repeated multiple times to achieve remarkable transparency, By revisiting this antique paillonné enamel decoration depth and light. Each cooking session necessitates in the contemporary context of the Code 11.59 by different temperatures and times; a perilous procedure Audemars Piguet, Anita Porchet echoes the requiring extensive knowledge of colour alchemy. interweaving of traditional savoir-faire and forward thinking at the heart of the Manufacture’s craftsmanship. For Anita Porchet, as for Audemars Piguet’s finishing experts, perfection is in the details and the tiniest nuances are often invisible to the eye.

To complement this dial trilogy, Anita Porchet’s atelier is also at the disposal of clients to craft a personalised enamel dial of their choice.

Anita Porchet is carefully positionning by hand each unique gold spangle on the blue enamelled dial. 6 TIMELESS AND CONTEMPORARY

As for the manufacturing of its complex mechanism the conception, manufacturing and decoration of and enamel dial, the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet each component particularly intricate. Complex Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie’s 18-carat programming, dedicated tools and specialised human white gold case surprises with its contrasting details talents had to be combined for the industrialisation and refined hand-finishing techniques usually found and hand-finishing of the components. The case’s on calibres. juxtaposition of angular and rounded surfaces has presented a real challenge to the manufacturer’s The case’s ergonomic curvature and seamless finishing experts. The perfectly aligned alternation of combination of an octagonal middle case with a satin-brushed and polished surfaces adorning the round extra-thin bezel and stylised arched lugs made case is only achievable by hand.

A STRIKING LEGACY

Since its establishment in 1875, Audemars Piguet has In 1892, in collaboration with Louis Brandt & Frère, specialised in complicated watches. Records show Audemars Piguet crafted the first minute repeater that more than half of the 1625 watches produced wristwatch (29.3 mm or 13 lignes in diameter) ever between 1882 and 1892 included a chiming produced featuring two hammers set at a distance mechanism. This achievement can be attributed to that could strike the hours, quarters and minutes on the remarkable skills of the craftspeople working for request. This was made possible thanks to the the Manufacture across dozens of workshops in the watchmakers who met the challenge of adapting and Vallée de Joux. Considered as one of the most miniaturising complicated mechanisms for women’s sophisticated and complicated mechanisms, the diminutive pendant watches. From 1892 to 1957, the Grande Sonnerie was rare. Only 28 Audemars Piguet Manufacture created 35 minute repeater wristwatches. watches featured a Grande Sonnerie between 1882 None of these wristwatches included a Grande and 1892. Sonnerie due to its mechanical complexity.

7 While the production of chiming pocket watches calibre of 28.6 mm in diameter and 5.2 mm in never stopped at Audemars Piguet, production of thickness. 188 wristwatch calibres featuring a chiming wristwatches slowly diminished with the Grande Sonnerie were thereafter produced between Great Depression of the 1930s and the Second World 1995 and 2002. War. By the 1960s, chiming mechanisms were exclusively featured in pocket watches. Chiming wristwatches made their return at Audemars Piguet in the 1990s, following the revival of other classic complications in the aftermath of the quartz crisis.

The return of Audemars Piguet Grande Sonnerie mechanisms was notably marked in the 1980s by the release of five masterpieces made by Philippe Dufour, a young independent and free-spirited watchmaker from the Vallée de Joux, whom the Manufacture supported for his talent and devotion to the preservation of the region’s craftsmanship.

Audemars Piguet launched its first Grande Sonnerie Yellow gold Grande Sonnerie pocket watch with sapphire dial and caseback crafted by Philippe Dufour for Audemars Piguet in 1987. wristwatch in 1994, a remarkable achievement for a Audemars Piguet Heritage Collection, Inv. 0389.

“The creation and continued development of complex chiming watches has been an active pursuit at Audemars Piguet since the birth of the company. The latest chapter of this ongoing story has arrived in the form of the unparalleled Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie – a distinct evolution of the innovative minute repeating Supersonnerie technology introduced by Audemars Piguet in 2015. Whereas a classic minute repeater will only chime when activated by the user, the new Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie is capable of boldly chiming the hours and quarter hours on its own accord with absolute clarity, far-reaching resonance and pure musicality.”

Michael Friedman Head of Complications, Audemars Piguet

8 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie / 41 mm 26397BC.OO.D002CR.01

FUNCTIONS DIAL Grande Sonnerie and Petite Sonnerie Carillon, minute Unique custom creations by Anita Porchet. repeater, hours and minutes.

CASE STRAP 18-carat white gold case, double glareproofed Hand-stitched “large square-scale” blue alligator strap sapphire crystal, screw-locked crown, water-resistant with 18-carat white gold folding clasp. to 20 m.

Front side Back side

MOVEMENT SPECIFICATION Hand-wound Manufacture Calibre 2956 Diameter 29.9 mm (13 lignes) Thickness 5.88 mm Number of parts 489 Number of jewels 53 Minimal power reserve guaranteed 48 h Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)

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Notes to Editors

About Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet is the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families (Audemars and Piguet). Based in Le Brassus since 1875, the company has nurtured generations of talented craftspeople who have continuously developed new skills and techniques, broadening their savoir-faire to set rule-breaking trends. In the Vallée de Joux, at the heart of the Swiss Jura, Audemars Piguet has created numerous masterpieces, testament to the Manufacture’s ancestral craftsmanship and forward-thinking spirit. Sharing its passion and savoir-faire with watch enthusiasts worldwide through the language of emotions, Audemars Piguet has established enriching exchanges among fields of creative practices and fostered an inspired community. Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world. — www.audemarspiguet.com

Image Credits Karin Creuset Diode Guillaume Megevand

All photographs are non-contractual. Audemars Piguet reserves the right to make changes at any time on the models presented in the booklet.