Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar John Mayer

Quick specs Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar John Mayer
Price: approx. € 160.000 | CHF 150’000 | $ 180,700 | approx. £ 135,000 (all excluding taxes)
Size: 41 mm
Reference: 26574BC.OO.1220BC.02 – limited to 200 pieces

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar John Mayer is the result of a collaboration between the Swiss watch brand and singer/songwriter John Mayer. Like a lot of artists Mayer is a watch collector – from G-Shocks to exclusives like the AP QP. Where QP stands for Quantième Perpétuel, French for perpetual calendar.

The British clockmaker Thomas Mudge, who would succeed the business of George Graham in the 18^th century, is credited for inventing the perpetual calendar. He created this mechanism around 1762, and today it is still a miraculous mechanical complication. The new AP we are looking at here indicates the date, day, week, month, and leap year.

John Mayer’s adjustments to the AP QP

The regular Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars have a dial with Grande Tapisserie pattern, like this Black Ceramic version. However, the 41-millimeter John Mayer version offers an embossed sparkling blue crystal sand finished dial. Which gives the impression that you are looking at the sky with an endless view on the stars. This astronomical element is strengthened by the moon phase complication at the 6 o’clock position, that could have been even stronger if it would have had the same background as the dial. Nevertheless “it gives a glimpse of infinity” according to AP’s CEO Ilaria Resta, and we fully agree.

Not only the dial itself is special, there are some little details Mayer brought in as well. Normally the “31” of the date is red on AP’s Perpetual Calendars, here it is printed in white. Also with a smaller size, and stepped as well, to create some distinction from the “1” next to it. It works, but we’re not sure if it’s an improvement. Certainly, the light blue hand indicating the weeks is, as it subtly blends with the background without losing its readability.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar John Mayer has power reserve of 40 hours

The time piece is driven by the automatic Audemars Piguet caliber 5134 that dates already from 2015. Yet, it is still very modern, with its ultra-thin design (4.5 millimeters), refined with Côtes de Genève decorations, circular graining and circular satin and polished chamfers. The open-worked oscillating weight is from rhodium-toned 22-carat pink gold and embellished with a stamped Tapisserie motif. As said, it is not on the dial, but not completely disappeared.

The case of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar John Mayer is executed in 18k white gold, and so is the bracelet. The model is limited to 200 pieces only, from which John Mayer has at least one.