Whereas we’ve noticed all method of compelling chronos, meteorite-dialed novelties, and ultralight tourbillons on the 2024 Summer season Olympics, the brand new Royal Oak Double Steadiness Wheel Openworked ref. 15407ST seen on the wrist of Serena Williams has to take the cake for Dopest Parisian Wrist Sweet. Launched in July, her metal mannequin is one among three new 41-mm Steadiness Wheel Openworked references. And admittedly, as good because the black ceramic and 18k yellow gold variations are, this one—with its mixture of metal and skeletonized, pink gold-tone motion—must be the good.
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A longtime accomplice of Audemars Piguet, Williams has worn nearly each fascinating AP on earth. However there’s one thing in regards to the ref. 15407ST that encapsulates every thing enticing in regards to the model and its trendy watchmaking ethos: First, there’s the skeletonized cal. 3132 with its double steadiness wheel seen through each side of the case; some openwork watches tackle a cheap-looking really feel, however that’s by no means the case with respect to AP, which right here balances an enchanting look into the beating coronary heart of the watch with Gérald Genta’s beloved integrated-bracelet Royal Oak design from 1972.
Williams’s Royal Oak bracelet additionally helps outline what makes AP so particular. The band, which is sort of as recognizable because the watch, makes use of each polished and satin-brushed surfaces to play with mild in a means that merely can’t be appreciated through a digital picture displayed on a cellphone or laptop computer. The design of the case, which blends into the bezel with its eight signature screws, nonetheless feels futuristic over 50 years after its debut, whereas the 18k white-gold hour indices and fingers present distinction towards the skeletonized motion and match properly visually with the metal of the case. I may go over the specs all day nevertheless it’s less complicated to say that is only a cool watch. And with a case thickness underneath 10 mm, its 41-mm profile works on all kinds of wrists. So should you’ve bought $76,400 and an important relationship along with your native AP boutique, we are saying: Why not?
The ref. 15407ST is, as we’ve talked about, merely the newest in an extended string of wonderful APs we’ve seen Williams put on through the years, from a fantastic blue-dialed, time-and-date Royal Oak worn on The Tonight Present, to a sporty, diamond-bezel Offshore on the US Open, to the Royal Oak Idea “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon full with mini Wakandan superhero within the dial middle that she rocked again in 2021. The truth is, she truly performed with the quartz-powered Offshore on-wrist again in 2022—a transfer that’s very a lot not a given in tennis and during which she’s joined by Rafael Nadal and his tech-forward Richard Mille fashions. Williams’s relationship with AP runs so deep that the model personalized the look ahead to her, flipping the crown to the left aspect of the case to make it extra snug to put on throughout matches.
James Devaney
Jennifer Aniston’s Santos de Cartier
Seen filming an episode of The Morning Present—whereas additionally presumably conjuring the spirit of a deceased Brazilian aviation pioneer whom her watch is called after—was Jennifer Aniston rocking a solid-gold Santos de Cartier. Having been noticed in all method of lovely Cartiers prior to now, this specific mannequin seems the half on her wrist, regardless of its presence right here little question dictated by a horologically savvy prop grasp. Plainly Aniston is carrying the Medium mannequin, which has a 31.5-mm case diameter, an computerized 1847 MC motion, and an identical yellow-gold bracelet.
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Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
In an emotional second, French bike owner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was seen crying tears of pleasure after taking dwelling the gold medal in cross-country mountain biking. In the meantime, watch collectors have been seen weeping tears of envy at her wrist sweet, one other lovely Audemars Piguet Royal Oak on the Summer season Video games. Whereas she didn’t put on the watch throughout competitors, it was a becoming prize to strap on whereas celebrating a win that eluded her on the 2012 Olympics. (It additionally doesn’t look like Ferrand-Prévot’s solely AP—she posted a pic on Instagram again in 2023 with a diamond-bezel RO with the caption, “No excuse, can’t be late anymore.”) The Royal Oak line seems to be the selection of premier athletes on the Paris Olympics. Along with Ferrand-Prévot’s and Williams’s decisions, Simone Biles celebrated getting one simply forward of turning into the winningest American gymnast in historical past.
