The Jules Audemars Minute Repeater Jumping Hours Platinum (26356PT.OO.D028CR.01) is a truly exceptional timepiece from Audemars Piguet, a globally renowned watchmaker renowned for its top-quality watches. This remarkable watch boasts two highly sophisticated complications: a minute repeater that chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes at your command, and a jumping hour that displays the present hour in a window at the 12 o'clock mark. Additionally, the watch features a beautiful skeletonized dial that showcases the intricate movements of the self-winding caliber AP 2907.
The watch's case is expertly crafted from platinum, an incredibly rare and valuable metal, and the strap is lovely blue alligator leather adorned with a platinum deployant buckle. It is a true masterpiece of watchmaking skill and innovation, and serves as a testament to Audemars Piguet's unparalleled expertise in haute horlogerie.
Crafting Excellence: An Ode to Aesthetics
This incredible timepiece boasts exceptional openworked craftsmanship, showcasing the intricate workings of its hand-wound caliber with minute repeater and jumping hours. The platinum case is 43 mm wide and 13.15 mm thick, making it a remarkable presence on your wrist. Its skeletonized dial lays the complex mechanism bare, featuring a jumping hour disc at 12 o'clock, a central minute hand, and a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock.
The dial's blued steel hands and Arabic numerals ensure excellent legibility. A blue alligator leather strap with a platinum folding clasp adds elegance and comfort. The watch is a stunning blend of classic grace and contemporary innovation.
Its openworked design allows for awe-inspiring views of the movement's beauty and exactness. The minute repeater's melodious sound can be enjoyed whenever the wearer desires. The jumping hour complication brings a unique twist to conventional time displays, creating an exciting and dynamic effect.
This watch caters to those who appreciate fine horology, artistic design, and exclusivity.
The Tangible Time: Composition and Craftsmanship
With a platinum case measuring 43 mm in diameter, this watch boasts of a durable and luxurious material that resists corrosion and tarnishing. Even the bezel is made of polished platinum. The dial is skeletonized, giving you a peek into the watch's inner mechanism through its sapphire crystal.
The blued steel hands contrast well with the silver dial and add an elegant touch to its look. The strap is made of soft, comfortable blue alligator leather and comes with a platinum deployant buckle. This watch isn't just beautiful to look at, but it also comes with some exceptional functions, such as its minute repeater function, activated by a slide on the side of the case, that chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes on demand.
It also has a jumping hour feature, displaying the current hour in a window above the central minute hand. To add to its accuracy, this timepiece is powered by a hand-wound caliber AP 2907, which lasts for 72 hours. Although it has a water resistance of just 20 meters, this watch can withstand splashes or brief immersion in water – but it's not made for swimming or diving.
Despite not having any specific resistance to shock, its high-quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship have ensured its reliability and accuracy.
Behind the Ticks: Understanding Accuracy and Movement
The internal workings of this timepiece have been expertly crafted into a skeletonized or openworked design, revealing every intricate detail. With a manually wound mechanical movement, it boasts a minute repeater complication that can chime the hours, quarters, and minutes at a moment's notice by sliding a lever on the side of the case. Additionally, it features a jumping hour complication, presenting the hour in a digital display that changes instantly at the top of every hour.
The accurate and stable regulation of the watch is ensured by a variable inertia balance device that can be adjusted by regulating the screws on the balance wheel, giving it a power reserve of 70 hours. While the accuracy and reliability of a mechanical movement depend on several factors, they are cherished by collectors for their intricate beauty and long-standing tradition, despite being relatively less accurate and reliable than quartz movements. On average, the deviation could be +/- 5 seconds per day, depending on how well it is adjusted and utilized.
The minute repeater and jumping hour complications are among the most difficult and costly to make, with hundreds of tiny parts and meticulous refining involved. If you'd like to learn more about winding, setting, or maintaining this watch, please let us know.
The Complex Core: Functionality and Intricacies
This timepiece boasts two primary features: a minute repeater and a jumping hour. The minute repeater is a complex and highly coveted mechanism that chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes when activated using a slide located on the side of the case. Crafted with intricate attention to detail, this complication is comprised of countless tiny parts.
The jumping hour function, on the other hand, utilizes a digital window display to instantly showcase the current hour. This modern twist adds a sleek touch to the otherwise traditional skeletonized dial. A small seconds subdial at the 6 o'clock position provides symmetry and balance to the design.
With a power reserve of 72 hours, this timepiece is built to last.
Crafted for Comfort: A Wearability Analysis
This exceptional timepiece showcases unparalleled craftsmanship and engineering. Its skeletonized dial grants a glimpse of the intricate inner workings of the hand-wound caliber AP 2907. Measuring at 43 mm in diameter, the platinum case may not suit all wrists, but the blue alligator strap with a platinum deployant buckle effortlessly balances it out.
The strap is adjustable, yet still incredibly comfortable, beautifully complementing the blue accents on the dial. Its minute repeater function accurately chimes hours, quarters, and minutes on demand, while a jumping hour disc displays the current hour in a window at the 12 o'clock position. Impressively, it holds a power reserve of 72 hours and is water-resistant up to 20 meters.
This luxury timepiece exudes elegance, sophistication, and innovation, making it ideal for formal occasions, but less practical for everyday wear. With only 10 of its kind in existence, it is an extremely rare and costly treasure.
Investing in Time: Cost and Value Explored
This timepiece boasts an impressive price tag, falling within the upper echelon of the Jules Audemars collection at approximately $300,000. While not explicitly limited edition, only a select few are crafted due to the rigorous complexity and craftsmanship required. The watch's platinum casing and skeleton dial are sure to catch the eye, revealing the intricate movements and minute repeater mechanism that produces a crisp, clear sound upon activation.
Additionally, a jumping hour disc at the twelve o'clock position and small seconds subdial at the six o'clock mark add to the watch's unique allure. With a 72-hour power reserve and a sleek blue alligator strap with platinum deployant buckle, this watch is indeed a one-of-a-kind model. Its openworked design, minute repeater, and jumping hour functions all in one timepiece showcase the skill and innovation of Audemars Piguet, an esteemed watchmaker known worldwide.
Not just a timepiece, it's a masterpiece of art and engineering and a coveted prized possession for collectors who appreciate exquisite horology.
Strengths and Weaknesses: A Comprehensive Review
Advantages: The watch embraces some impressive features such as its remarkable ability to chime the hours, quarters, and minutes with its rare and complex complication called the minute repeater function. It also showcases a jumping hour display, which quickly and precisely shows the hour in a window at 12 o'clock and jumps at every hourly change. With its openworked, or skeletonized dial, one can marvel at the intricacies of the hand-wound caliber AP 2907 movement.
The watch's platinum case and blue alligator strap are luxurious and durable materials that blend well together. Finally, it has an impressive power reserve capable of running for 72 hours without winding. Disadvantages: The watch's retail price of roughly $500,000 makes it quite expensive.
Its large diameter of 43 mm and thickness of 13.15 mm may not cater to all wrist sizes or preferences. With only ten pieces made worldwide, the watch's limited availability makes it tricky to find or service. The watch is also delicate, with a fragile movement that requires careful handling and maintenance, especially regarding the minute repeater mechanism.
Our Time Ends: Final Evaluation
The Jules Audemars Minute Repeater Jumping Hours Platinum (26356PT.OO.D028CR.01) is an exquisite display of Audemars Piguet's expert craftsmanship and ingenuity. This timepiece is a fusion of two exceptional complications: a minute repeater function, and a jumping hour display that showcases the current hour at 12 o'clock. The intricately crafted hand-wound caliber AP 2907 movement, which boasts a 72-hour power reserve, is visible through the openworked dial and caseback.
The watch's platinum case and blue alligator strap accentuate its sophistication and exclusivity. This impressive watch is not for everyone because of its high cost and limited production. Its target audience is collectors and connoisseurs who appreciate the art and history of horology and are willing to pay a premium for an extraordinary and refined watch.
The Jules Audemars Minute Repeater Jumping Hours Platinum has a strong resale value as it is one of the most coveted models from Audemars Piguet. However, due to the minute repeater mechanism's complexity and fragility, it requires meticulous maintenance and servicing. If you're searching for a watch that exemplifies Audemars Piguet's mastery of high-end complications and offers a unique and elegant style, this timepiece is undoubtedly worth considering.
However, if you're looking for a more practical and versatile watch or not ready to invest in an expensive timepiece, explore other options from Audemars Piguet or other luxury brands.