Introducing: Audemars Piguet And Dubai Future Foundation Unveil An Automatic Watch Winder That Sets The New 41mm Perpetual Calendar Royal Oaks

What We Know

It’s not often that we write about watch boxes (or watch accessories in general), but I think this new prototype announcement deserves some attention. As part of a collaboration between Audemars Piguet and the Dubai Future Foundation (a government entity established in 2016 as a technology incubator), the two have announced a brand-new watch box. More than just winding, it can set the calendar and time on the recent caliber 7138-powered 41mm Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar Royal Oak.

Yes, setting a perpetual calendar is much simpler now that these watches from AP can be completely set via the crown, but it still requires some engineering. The box combines computer vision and AI learning with electromechanical components to set the watch, using a small camera in the lid to analyze the dial in real time with an AI machine learning algorithm. 

That algorithm is trained on a wide range of different dial configurations, allowing the device to adapt to each watch individually, and therefore (I believe) should be adaptable to future iterations of the watch in that size and movement. The box features Bluetooth connectivity and provides feedback on the process.

The process itself is pretty straightforward. Align the watch, close the lid, and start the process, and the box does the rest. It should take about five minutes to fully set and wind the watch. Yes, you can do it faster yourself, I’m sure, but if you don’t want to, this is another option. The box itself is 20 by 12 by 15cm and weighs around 2 kg (or 4.4 pounds), and is an interesting sculptural object for your dresser or shelf.

The box is currently in the prototype stage, but the brand plans to approach the industrialization phase of the project soon. With that in mind, no pricing has been shared.

What We Think

This is an interesting concept. If you’re lucky enough to own a caliber 7138 Audemars Piguet perpetual calendar Royal Oak, it makes sense to have one of these boxes on hand. Yes, the caliber is incredibly easy to set via the crown, but what’s even easier? Not having to set it at all. While I am not entirely on board the AI bandwagon, this seems like the ideal use case for a self-contained AI and computer-imaging system. The box is currently powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which means the design is clean, with no cables, which is a nice touch as well.

The Basics

Brand: Audemars Piguet
Model: Perpetual Calendar Setting and Winding Box

Length: 20cm
Width: 12cm
Height: 15cm
Weight: ~2kg
Operation Time: 5 minutes

Pricing & Availability

Price: No pricing yet
Availability: Currently in the prototype phase
Limited Edition: No

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