Audemars Piguet Italian Elegance | “Dark Chocolate” Audemars Piguet Museum Collection | Serviced, Watch Only Edward Piguet

The distinctive identity of this rectangular timepiece is revealed on its caseback. Engraved with “Museum Collection” and an individual serial number, it is a designation personally bestowed by Audemars Piguet, formally acknowledging its historical significance.

Since 1875, when Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet founded the manufacture in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux, Audemars Piguet has created an extraordinary diversity of timepieces. The Museum Collection was established to curate and preserve selected designs that represent key moments in the brand’s historical timeline — pieces deemed by the manufacture itself to be of lasting importance.

The unconventional watch presented here is one such example. Authenticated by Audemars Piguet and officially admitted into the Museum Collection, it holds a rightful place within the brand’s chronicle.

The story takes us back to 1999. As Audemars Piguet approached its 125th anniversary, the manufacture introduced two flagship collections named after its founders: the Jules Audemars collection with round cases, and the Edward Piguet collection with rectangular cases. Together, they symbolized the dual foundations of the brand’s watchmaking heritage. Their introduction marked a reflective moment — a deliberate review and consolidation of more than a century of horological history at the turn of the millennium.

This Edward Piguet timepiece features a rectangular case with gently curved corners, balancing strength with softness. The front of the case is accented by an oval-shaped frame that echoes the rectangular inner dial, creating a clear sense of depth and contrast. The overall silhouette is smooth and fluid, free from sharp transitions, resulting in a composed yet refined visual presence.

The dial design is equally considered. Rendered in black, it reinforces the watch’s restrained and contemplative character. Matching feuille hands glide quietly across the surface. The small seconds at six o’clock is harmoniously balanced against the Arabic numerals, while the absence of a numeral at twelve is replaced by a discreet “AP” signature — a subtle integration of brand identity into the dial’s architecture.
The watch is powered by the ultra-thin manual-winding Cal. 2085, a movement widely used in rectangular Edward Piguet models and a testament to Audemars Piguet’s long-standing pursuit of slimness and understated elegance.

Created at the turn of the century, during a period of introspection for the manufacture, this watch is neither a statement of radical design nor a showcase of technical bravado. Instead, through its proportions and restrained aesthetics, it reaffirms Audemars Piguet’s enduring commitment to classical elegance. It is precisely for this reason that it was personally selected by the brand for inclusion in the Museum Collection — securing its place within the steady current of Audemars Piguet’s history.

This piece is a YN Select — and, more importantly, a selection made by Audemars Piguet itself. The movement has been fully serviced by Nicky Sir, runs accurately, and is accompanied by a one-year service warranty from our studio.
In-stock and available for viewing and fitting.