It is a well-documented reality that almost all of the big watch marques do not actually like their timepieces being messed with as soon as they have been purchased.
Get the factor seen to by an unverified watchmaker slightly than going by means of the in-house servicing division and you may lose your guarantee at finest, end up smote by the horological gods at worst. Have your watch customised by an exterior social gathering, alternatively, and you may count on full excommunication from the model in query and, maybe, Switzerland itself (maybe).
The reality is, nonetheless, that high-level watch customisation is changing into more and more commonplace amongst rich collectors and connoisseurs trying to make a wholly distinctive on-wrist affect.
Drake, as an example, has greater than as soon as been noticed sporting an “invaluable” baguette emerald-encrusted Patek Philippe Nautilus, which was designed for him by his good friend Virgil Abloh, whereas Abloh himself is thought to be in possession of an all-black ref 5726, with each items rumoured to have been created by customized jeweller MAD Paris.
Now, the customisation prepare appears to be delivering a considerably much less clandestine course, particularly within the form of a brand new collaboration between MAD and storied London division retailer Browns Fashion.
For the primary time, the 2 establishments have teamed as much as produce a small capsule assortment of customised Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks – created in collaboration with two of essentially the most celebrated modern menswear designers working at this time, Matthew Williams of 1017 Alyx 9SM and Givenchy and Charaf Tajer of Casablanca – and the entire thing could not look extra straight-A legit if it tried.
Consisting of 4 timepieces restricted to 5 items every, the unique watches had been sourced by MAD from trusted preowned sellers and every has been given a one-of-a-kind makeover by the hands of the designer in query.
Within the case of Williams, as an example, the American inventive – who is thought for his pared-back but edgy collections at each Givenchy and Alyx – has taken the economic overtones of Gérald Genta’s unique octagonal creation as his aesthetic cue.
Certainly, slightly than including any new components to his allotted assortment of ten watches, Williams selected as a substitute to strip them again solely, eradicating all extraneous design particulars and ending every with an ultra-minimal brushed impact. Each the 41mm rose-gold possibility and the 39mm yellow-gold model are available in at £125,000 apiece and so they’re available for purchase from Browns as of at this time.
