In order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Hotel Byblos, renown as a luxurious recreational spot for celebrities and illustrious personas. Many luxury brands like: Roll Royce, Sisley, Dom Pérignon are offering limited edition themed good. As is Audemars Piguet who are releasing two limited edition timepieces to mark the occasion.
Image courtesy of: Hotel Byblos
Located in Saint-Tropez, France, right off the Baie de Pampelonne with a series of beaches running along its five kilometer shore line, was the chosen location for the Hotel Byblos. Legend has it that the concept for this hotel came from a Lebanese businessman obsessed with Brigitte Bardot, back in 1965. He based the Hotel Byblos on a re-creation of the Excelsior Hotel in Beirut. After 2 years of construction it was finally inaugurated in 1967 by the coveted Brigitte Bardot and Gunter Sachs in what was an international event.
Back in the hotel’s beginnings in late 1960’s * Image courtesy of: Hotel Byblos
Ever since then this hotel has been a highly desired vacation spot for the A-list community of celebrities, all across the world. Whether of a financial, political or entertainment background those seeking thrills in the French Riviera, tend to stay here if possible. These celebratory timepiece models full technical designation is “Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Le Byblos 50th Anniversary – BAP (Be Happy) Byblos Audemars Piguet”.
The hotel as it can be experienced now a days. * Image courtesy of: Hotel Byblos
The men’s version has a 44mm case made of 18k pink gold with a transparent case back, which allows to view the inner working of the movement. Its case back includes the hotel’s anniversary date, as well as Hotel Byblos logo/coat of arms, which is a depiction of the nymph Europa being abducted by Zeus. Also features two large rectangular pushers to the right side of the case with a screw-locked crown in between them.
Image courtesy of: Audemars Piguet
While the ladies version maintains a 44m case, but is instead made out of stainless-steel with a solid caseback. Its fixed bezel has been set with 32 diamonds circling around, for a stunning effect and a total of 1.02 carats. Also features two round push-pieces on the right side of the case with a screw-locked crown in between them. Water-resistance can reach up to 50 meters (164 feet).
Image courtesy of: Audemars Piguet
Time is exhibited on a white mega tapisserie pattern dial with 18k pink applied hour index markers, for the men’s version. It features three snailed sub-dials: a 12-hour counter at the 6 o’clock position; a 30-minute counter at the 9 o’clock position and a sub-seconds at the 12 o’clock position. The 18k pink gold hands and hour index markers have all undergone a luminescent coating, for an enhanced legibility. There’s also a tachymeter scale circling the dial near the bezel. And a date aperture has been placed at the 3 o’clock position, followed by the AP logo which is aligned with that position, although slightly more centered.
Image courtesy of: Audemars Piguet
While the ladies model exhibits time on a white lady tapisserie pattern dial, also with 18k pink gold hands and hour index markers that have undergone a luminescent coating, for an enhanced legibility. Then elements begin to differ in positioning. This model has three sub-dials: a 30-minute counter at the 3 o’clock position; a sub-seconds at the 6 o’clock position and a 12-hour counter at the 9 o’clock position. There is also a date aperture between the 4 and 5 o’clock positions.
Image courtesy of: Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Hotel Byblos
These “Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Hotel Byblos” (Ref#: NOT YET AVAILABLE) are powered by a self-winding mechanical movement, caliber 3126/3840 with 59 jewels and 21,600 vph. Power reserve on these watches can last up to 50 hours, when fully wound.
Men’s version * Image courtesy of: Audemars Piguet
Mounted to the watches is a white rubber strap, secured to the wrist by an 18k pink gold buckle, or a stainless steel pin buckle for the ladies version. These are both limited edition watches, although at the time of writing we’ve yet to be informed how many were produced. For more updated info check back at Audemars Piguet official website.
Ladies version * Image courtesy of: Audemars Piguet
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Image courtesy of: Hotel Byblos
Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak, Offshore, Hotel Byblos, Anniversary, Luxury Watches
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