Audemars Piguet - Museum

Shortly after noon, Michel Faure, the head of marketing, took us out for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Afterward we returned back for a quick tour of the museum which is housed in a separate building. We could have all stayed there and listened to Mr. Wehrli telling stories and showing us the watches on display for hours but we had a long trip to Renaud & Papi ahead of us so the time we were able to spend was much too short. 

We all fell in love with the clock outside of the museum. In 2002, the 30th anniversary of the Royal Oak is due and I've heard that these clocks will play a big part in the celebration ...

This is the original factory sign from 1875 which is now hanging in the ground floor of the museum. Even back then a little bit of exaggeration was always a good method to boost sales. On the bottom of the sign, the comptoirs de vente (points of sale) are listed. Messrs. Audemars & Piquet thought that adding "New York" would give their new-found operation a touch of international flair but it was only years later that their watches actually were represented in the USA. 

The first floor of the building also houses the workshop where the tourbillons are assembled. The two rooms are separated by  panes of glass, the view of the display cases is certainly a daily inspiration for the watchmakers working there.

On his travels through Switzerland in 1892, Monet passed through Le Brassus amidst a dreadful snowstorm and found shelter in the AP factory. To show his gratitude, he left them this painting which is now hanging inside the museum's entrance.* 

At the end of our tour we were taken to a conference room, the vaults were opened  and we were allowed to play to our hearts content. Imagine, drawers and drawers of watches and no glass between you and them. 

The Zagat Guide to Le Brassus has yet to make its entrance onto the scene.  However when it does, thin it will be for there are but two places in town, the pizzeria and “the restaurant”.  Off to the restaurant we went, which from a visit to Le Brassus a year earlier was familiar to me.  Indeed this must be the “Audemars haunt” because my lingering memory of lunch here from that trip was seeing all of the Audemars logo jackets on the coat rack, occupying places that would otherwise have sported NFL logo parkas in the US.  Lunch was a hurried affair for a drive across Switzerland awaited to get to Le Brassus, Audemars nerve center for complicated watches.

Michael and Jeff make a brilliant team ! Saying our good-byes, Jeff mentioned the AP jackets he had seen hanging in the restaurant the year before. Michael artfully picked up on the subject and mentioned that he used to own one but that it had been stolen. Mr. Faure immediately took pity, asked us to wait another moment and whispered something into the ear of an assistant. A short while later, two employees returned staggering under the weight of a pile of Audemars Piguet jackets they were carrying and presented one to each of us. What a great gift ! In theme with the company's Americas Cup sponsorship, they're waterproof sailing jackets, I can't wait for autumn to wear mine.

I'm really not sure what to say, other than that Audemars Piguet and Mr. Faure are a class act. Also Jeff and Michael, for skillfully bringing up the matter of the jackets (I swear I had nothing to do with it!). I was a little embarrassed by the generous gesture, having just been presented with the beautiful book on Audemars Piguet, and having just moments before shamelessly pushed and pulled every button and slide on the Cabinet Series No. 1 in platinum. Not only had we been asking all sorts of awkward questions and prodding at their beautiful watches, but we were also taking away a veritable treasure trove! However, the flesh was weak, and while I was thinking "no, you really shouldn't", I was simultaneously snatching at the jacket that was offered. Everyone proceeded to try these on, asking each other whether we looked better in large or extra large sizes. Oh the vanity! After a few concerns that we didn't have the right sizes, Mr Faure and his assistant went back to the goodies storage area and found the right sized jackets. Oh well, when in Rome... Like Hans, I too look forward to autumn and winter, so that I can be decked out in the latest AP gear.

* my thanks go to Kevin and Jeff who generously let me keep my silly joke in the article