My very first AP.
Mind you, this wasn’t something that just came up out of nowhere. You remember a lot of the very “firsts” in your life. I don’t need to get very graphic, but when you think about your life, there’s always a few “firsts” you never forget.
In this case, this was my first big watch purchase. I’ve dabbled in Sport watches in the past. Sport watches are my favorite. Maybe it’s just the time I’m at in life, but I don’t desire any “dressy” watches (save maybe one, we’ll get to that in another post in the future). I’m rarely in a suit for anything business related, and even then I wouldn’t wear something super expensive on my wrist. My go to for work related functions is my stainless steel Rolex I used to wear every day. Understated, but also appropriate for a under-30 male in my opinion.
It took months of admiration. My love had to blossom for it. Like most things, I think growing to love something is a longer bond than something you instantly love off the bat. Think of those songs on the radio. They’re catchy at first, but you grow tired of it. You buy that person’s album, and you’ll find deeper tracks that you love more and listen to for a long time thereafter.
I went from not being too impressed by it at all (I always have been a great admirer of Rolex) to falling in love with the look of AP watches so hard I thought about them every vacant moment I wasn’t concentrating on something important or necessary.
The weight. The look. The intricate details. The use of different materials. Different grades of steel. The hand placed details. The hidden heart of gold. All of these things.
It’s crazy to think how much the brand has exploded in the past few years. Maybe it’s because Jay-Z is a big fan. Maybe because Rick Ross is a huge fan. Maybe because their “brand ambassadors” (basically people paid to sport their watches and wear their logo during play since most are athletes) are famous people. Whatever the case, as much as the brand has taken off, I’m still so happy that for the most part, it’s not instantly recognizable by the masses like a Rolex is.
This just means I can wear it and most people wouldn’t know what it is. I see this as a great thing. I don’t think watches and luxury items are things that should be worn to flaunt. First and foremost, something luxurious should be admired and treasured as something luxurious, intricate (for watches) and something meaningful. This watch is Stainless Steel. Not the most expensive metal in the world, but inside of this watch, ticks “a heart of gold”.
You see, Audemars Piguet is an old company. And I believe it’s still owned by the original families. And what sets them apart is the details you can’t see with the naked eye. This timepiece has gold on the inside. Not on the outside. I always thought that in the age of making more money with less expensive materials, Audemars stays true to its roots by still using gold on the inside of their watches. Although it’s not my last Audemars, it will be special because it’s my first.
