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Lot Essay
Limited to only 300 pieces worldwide, the 37 mm. frosted gold Royal Oak styled by Carolina Bucci is one of the most exquisite lady’s watches of the Audemars Piguet catalogue. As part of the ‘Champion Collection’ the present watch is offered in exceptional condition and is accompanied by the full set of accessories including the special box with a mirrored lid specially designed by Ms Bucci, who created it as a display object for a lady’s closet.
The Florentine goldsmith and designer Carolina Bucci was first invited to envision a new look for the iconic Royal Oak in 2016 and from that moment the ingenious ‘frosted gold’ effect was an instant hit, giving the Royal Oak an entirely new aesthetic. The frosted effect is achieved by applying a hammered finish to the surface, known as ‘Florentine finish’, the technique involves hammering the gold with a sharp, diamond-tipped tool to create a granular texture with a sparkling, diamond-like visual effect.
The ‘frosted gold’ finish has been used on various Audemars Piguet watches, including a Royal Oak for men. The present model launched in 2018, is in fact the third collaboration of Carolina Bucci with Audemars Piguet. In another bold and avant-garde departure, instead of the Royal Oak’s classic ‘tapisserie’ dial, this stunning Royal Oak features a smooth, reflective dial, which provides a remarkable almost ‘liquid’ contrast against the frosted case finish. In the words of Ms. Bucci, “The mirror is always interacting with its environment, ever-changing according to what clothes you’re wearing, the décor of the room, the lighting, the time of day, the weather”.
Thanks to Audemars Piguet’s vision, the generations-old technique of Florentine finish has been brought to a contemporary audience ensuring its survival in the 21st century.
The Florentine goldsmith and designer Carolina Bucci was first invited to envision a new look for the iconic Royal Oak in 2016 and from that moment the ingenious ‘frosted gold’ effect was an instant hit, giving the Royal Oak an entirely new aesthetic. The frosted effect is achieved by applying a hammered finish to the surface, known as ‘Florentine finish’, the technique involves hammering the gold with a sharp, diamond-tipped tool to create a granular texture with a sparkling, diamond-like visual effect.
The ‘frosted gold’ finish has been used on various Audemars Piguet watches, including a Royal Oak for men. The present model launched in 2018, is in fact the third collaboration of Carolina Bucci with Audemars Piguet. In another bold and avant-garde departure, instead of the Royal Oak’s classic ‘tapisserie’ dial, this stunning Royal Oak features a smooth, reflective dial, which provides a remarkable almost ‘liquid’ contrast against the frosted case finish. In the words of Ms. Bucci, “The mirror is always interacting with its environment, ever-changing according to what clothes you’re wearing, the décor of the room, the lighting, the time of day, the weather”.
Thanks to Audemars Piguet’s vision, the generations-old technique of Florentine finish has been brought to a contemporary audience ensuring its survival in the 21st century.