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Wild Blue: John Mayer Named Audemars Piguet ‘Creative Conduit’
It’s a big day in the musician’s horological story.
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If there’s one celebrity name that has had an unequivocal sense of influence in the watch industry, it’s John Mayer. Besides being an award-winning, multi-million dollar artist who can evidently afford to own nice things, like luxury watches, Mayer has an insatiable passion for horology, which was first made public ten years in the now-famous Hodinkee ‘Talking Watches‘ episode.
In between that YouTube video going viral—a seminal viewing for any watch enthusiast—we’ve bared witness to the now-unattainable Rolex Daytona with a green “John Mayer” dial, a trilogy of G-Shock collaborations together with Hodinkee (all three sold out in minutes), and now, perhaps the most significant, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” limited edition, a watch designed in his newest capacity as “creative conduit” for the luxury Swiss watchmaker.
“As a long-time watch lover, today is a very special moment in my life,” Mayer told his 6M Instagram followers overnight. “I’ve teamed up with Audemars Piguet to create a limited edition Perpetual Calendar Royal Oak, an iconic watch that I – like other collectors – hold in the highest esteem. This version features some unique design touches, including a brand new dial manufacturing process that gives the effect of staring up into the night sky.”
Some will call the announcement of Mayer’s partnership with Audemars Piguet a long time coming. Others, are calling it “the collaboration of our time,” said one Instagram user. The news trickled through overnight, with images of the limited edition 18kt white gold Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 41mm, limited to just 200 pieces, and adorned by a beautiful “Crystal Sky”, wild blue dial—a hit song of Mayer’s, mind you—clogging Instagram feeds globally.
The piece, which Mayer claims to have been three years in the making and “the honour of a lifetime” is every bit as good as it should be; it has all the hallmarks for becoming arguably one of AP’s most significant releases. And while this isn’t a first of such collaborations for Audemars Piguet—last year we saw the Travis Scott AP x Cactus Jack, as well as a dedicated partnership with fashion designer Matthew Williams of Givenchy and Alyx fame—but this, for some reason, seems different. Perhaps it’s the notion of a true watch enthusiast designing and engaging with a piece that will likely outlive him. Very few can have such an impact on the watch industry at large.
“My favourite watches have dials that you can stare endlessly at. A great watch dial feels like a picture window – you look into it, not at it. In the case of this QP, it’s like looking up at a moonless sky,” adds the American singer, songwriter and guitarist. “There is a true sense of nature in it. And when you couple that sense of depth and vastness with the complication of a perpetual calendar, it is a very powerful combination of technical prowess and aesthetic design.”
Audemars Piguet’s newly minted CEO, Ilaria Resta, added that Mayer’s “love of complicated watches combined with his creativity made this an organic and fun collaboration.”
What Mayer will do in his role as ‘creative conduit’ is yet to be determined – will we see more limited-edition timepieces with his stamp of approval? Will his career as a musician be interwoven in some meaningful way? Whichever way you look at it, there’s no doubt that this is a smart and strategic move on AP’s behalf, especially considering Mayer’s horological clout not only drive’s hype, but brings a considerable amount of cash to the table.
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Model: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” Limited Edition
Reference: 26574BC.OO.1220BC.02
Diameter: 41mm
Material: 18-carat white gold
Dial colour: Blue crystal sand finished dial, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
Water resistance: 20m
Movement: Calibre 5134
Functions: Perpetual calendar with week indication, day, date, astronomical moon, month, leap year, hours and minutes
Frequency: 19,800 vph
Winding: self-winding
Power reserve: 40 hours
Bracelet: 18-carat white gold bracelet with AP folding clasp
Availability: at select AP boutiques
Price: $273,000AUD
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