Gulliver travelled to Lilliput and Brobdingnag. He encountered populations in miniature and enlarged as he travelled by ship to remote parts of the world. Replace ships with trains and planes. Also remote fictional islands with exclusive watch presentations. You will find that watch reporters embark on similar resizing missions in the real world.
The May issue of British Vogue reports on the explosion of women wearing men's watches under magnification. Massive watches with dials between 38 and 46mm in diameter, from companies such as Audemars Piguet, Omega, Rolex and Breitling.
Mary-Kate Olsen, Victoria Beckham and Rosie Vogel, Vogue's global director of talent and casting.
But everything that gets bigger has to get smaller. And the watch world has registered a renewed interest in watches with delicate and delicate dials under 30mm.
Leading the way is Audemars Piguet, the Swiss watchmaker beloved by Hailey Bieber, Serena Williams and recently married Millie Bobby Brown. Previously synonymous with grand design proportions, it has unveiled a slim version of its signature Royal Oak design.
Measuring a tiny 23mm in diameter, the Royal Oak Mini is available in luxurious frosted 18-carat gold, also available in yellow, white or pink. Carolina Bucci first introduced a Royal Oak in 2016 in frosted gold with a hammered finish in 37mm for the brand.
Inspired by the “Florentine finish” of her fine jewellery brand. Reminiscent of the smallest Royal Oak ever made. The miniature 20mm version of the 1997. created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the collection.
Royal Oak was created in 1972 by the pioneering Swiss watchmaker Gérald Genta. It has grown and shrunk over the last two and a half decades. Between 1980 and 2000 it was manufactured in 16 different sizes, between 20mm and 39mm. The brand's anniversary celebration also featured the Royal Oak Grande Complication. A design that Jay-Z, Justin Bieber and Chris Hemsworth would surely want - which has a case size of 44mm.
“Recently, we have seen a shift in our customers investing in small ladies” watches.“ Says Peter Rodwell, jewellery, watch, footwear and eyewear buyer at Selfridges. Similarly, buying director at Net-a-porter, Libby Page, has seen a 50% increase in searches for ”mini watches' on the e-commerce site.
A trend he attributes to shoppers looking for pieces that “effortlessly adapt to different occasions throughout the day”.
It is not only the delicate size of the Royal Oak Mini that reflects its versatile design but also its frosted gold finish. A painstaking technique achieved by creating tiny indentations in a built-in 18-karat gold bracelet. Using a diamond-tipped tool for this also suggests a jewel.
The Royal Oak Mini also celebrates the role of women in the watchmaking history of the Le Brassus-based watchmaking house.
Gérald Genta created the original design in the early 1970s. But it was designer Jacqueline Dimier, who was head of the Audemars Piguet design office between 1975 and 1999. She was responsible for updating the watch for women's wrists, creating the first women's 29mm version in 1976.
“These mini creations pay tribute not only to Audemars Piguet's long tradition of miniature watches and jewellery. But also to the women who have left their mark on the brand's history.” Says Ilaria Resta, who took over as CEO at the beginning of this year.
In her new position, Resta has re-emphasised the role of female creativity at Audemars Piguet. In January, the watchmaker announced a collaboration with couturier Tamara Ralph.
It won't just be Hailey Bieber who will be eager to get her hands on the Royal Oak Mini. Her husband, Justin, might well be interested in its subtle dimensions as well. Since some of the most popular men on the red carpet have recently shown a preference for delicate precious metal wristwatches. From Timothée Chalamet to Bad Bunny.
Sébastian Vivas, Audemars Piguet's heritage and museums director, who sounds like a modern-day Gulliver, agrees. “The new Royal Oak Mini watches transcend decades, genders, trends and dimensions.”.
Source: vogue.co.uk
