Audemars Piguet Millenary Carbon One Tourbillon Chronograph (Ref. 26152AU.OO.D002CR.01)

Photos of the new Audemars Piguet Millenary Carbon One Tourbillon Chronograph (Ref. 26152AU.OO.D002CR.01) watch were available for some time now, but it is only last week that the Swiss manufacture officially presented the timepiece to the public.

Sporting traditional for the Millenary collection proportions and shape, the watch nevertheless looks like the IBM Roadrunner near the Apple Macintosh 128K when compared to traditional models. Well, almost.

The reason is not only its one-minute tourbillon complication that is itself a technical marvel, but also the choice of materials employed. Compared to the traditional steel, and gold, and, sometimes, platinum, the wide use of forged carbon (case, movement mainplate,) ceramic (bezel, crown and chronograph pushpieces) and titanium (caseback cover) makes it look… Hm… Well, of course, it doesn’t look beautiful, but it seems to be a perfect choice for the Terminator. Not for the clumsy T-600 or the liquid-metal T-1000, but for the more humane T-850 series (Okay, I know that the guy prefers the special-edition Royal Oak Offshore.)

Its skeletonized dial layout with contrasting gray, white and red elements looks too busy and, judging by real-life wrist-shots, makes the tiny hour and minute hands disappear in the intricate mesh of gears, barrels and the tourbillon carriage. So far, this is one of the least legible skeletonized watches I have ever seen.

Photos: Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet Millenary Carbon One Tourbillon Chronograph (Ref. 26152AU.OO.D002CR.01) watch specification

Price range: N/A
Movement: AP 2884, hand-wound, twin-barrel mainspring, 30 jewels, 336 parts, 21,600 vph, 9.7 mm high, 38.4 mm in diameter
Complications: Chronograph, one-minute tourbillon
Power reserve: 240 hours (10 days)
Case material: Forged carbon
Bezel material: Black ceramic
Case shape: Ovoid
Transparent case back: Yes, sapphire caseback
Case size: 47.0 x 42.0 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Black and white with red elements, skeletonized
Numerals: N/A
Hands: Stainless steel, black with luminescent substance
Strap: Crocodile leather
Crystal: Sapphire, anti-reflection coated
Water resistance: 20 meters