For 150 years, Audemars Piguet has shaped the world of haute horology, bridging tradition with avant-garde craftsmanship. As the Manufacture celebrates this milestone, it unveils a masterpiece that redefines one of watchmaking’s most revered complications: the perpetual calendar. Introducing the selfwinding Calibre 7138—an engineering marvel designed to elevate the perpetual calendar experience with a level of intuitiveness never seen before.
Audemars Piguet’s fascination with astronomical complications traces back to 1875, when the first perpetual calendars were conceived to mirror the cosmic dance of celestial bodies. Historically, this complication has been synonymous with complexity—correcting the varying lengths of months, leap years, and even century adjustments with minimal human intervention. But complexity need not be cumbersome. With Calibre 7138, Audemars Piguet revolutionizes the perpetual calendar by placing usability and ergonomic brilliance at its core.
Traditionally, perpetual calendars require external correctors, a meticulous process that demands precision tools. The new generation, however, introduces a paradigm shift: a single crown controls all adjustments. Four distinct positions allow seamless setting of the date, month, leap year, moon phases, and time—without the risk of desynchronization or damage. Protected by five patents, this innovation transforms an age-old complication into a symphony of mechanical simplicity.
This groundbreaking movement finds its home in three distinguished 41mm models—each a testament to Audemars Piguet’s dual mastery of heritage and modernity. The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet, crafted in 18-carat white gold, showcases a mesmerizing smoked blue dial, accentuated by an intricate guilloché motif created in collaboration with master artisan Yann von Kaenel. Meanwhile, two Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar models push aesthetic boundaries—one in sleek stainless steel with a striking blue Grande Tapisserie dial, the other in 18-carat sand gold, a luminous alloy that shifts between white and pink gold depending on the light.
In homage to its sesquicentennial legacy, Audemars Piguet releases three exclusive “anniversary” editions, limited to 150 pieces each. Marked by subtle yet meaningful details—including a vintage “Audemars Piguet” signature inspired by historical archives—these timepieces embody the spirit of innovation that has defined the Manufacture since its inception.
As horology marches into the future, Audemars Piguet once again asserts its place at the pinnacle of haute watchmaking. With Calibre 7138, the perpetual calendar is no longer a complication of the past—it is a seamless, intuitive experience designed for the modern connoisseur. This is not just a timepiece; it is a legacy on the wrist.
