By Dan O’ Rourke
Throughout the past week in sports, two big names have set even higher standards for themselves when it comes to measuring performance and perfection. Most notably a woman, who has dominated her sport for the past decade, added yet another piece to her trophy case. The six-time Australian Open winner, Serena Williams, earned her nineteenth Grand Slam in singles tennis. She was among the few athletes sporting a timepiece during the Aussie tournament. As a long time Audemars Piguet brand ambassador, Williams donned the iconic Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph. A very appropriate matchup as Serena truly embodied a brand fueled by both passion and performance.
While Serena brought her name into the spotlight, another pro athlete was immersed in some behind-the-scenes action. Professional golfer Ian Poulter, also an Audemars Piguet brand ambassador, first handedly experienced the artistic mastery that goes into making the mechanisms inside Audemars Piguet timepieces. Poulter visited the small Swiss town of Le Brassus in the Jura Mountains where the historic brand started nearly a century and a half ago. As a professional athlete, Poutler understands the dedication that goes into mastering a skill that hangs in the balance of so many moving parts. Given the opportunity to fully assemble a movement, even a man of Ian Poulter’s calibre was blown away by the detail and perfectionism that goes into each of these pieces.
The historic traditions have remained an integral part of Audemars Piguet’s family business, whose tag line reads: “To Break the Rules, You Must First Master Them.” The passion surrounding this brand is reflected through its brand ambassadors as they continue to push the limits.
