The Quartz Crisis was a particularly stressful time for watchmakers across the globe. Not only were quartz watches destroying their business, but to remain competitive watchmakers had to constantly churn out unique and interesting designs that gave the brand a competitive edge. Such models like the Royal Oak, Nautilus and hundreds of others were born during this era, and so too was the watch we have here, the Audemars Piguet “TV Screen” as it has become known. Made of 18kt white gold and featuring a rather large 32.5mm x 34mm rounded cushion case, the TV Screen looks exactly like a television from the period. An exercise in minimalism, the TV Screen boasts a simple ivory dial with applied baton hour markers, thin sword-shaped hands and no inscriptions other than AP’s name at 12 o’clock and the subtle “Swiss” mark at the edge of 6 o’clock. A dress watch that tries to go unnoticed even with its large case, the TV Screen features a thin bezel and a flat winding crown which powers its manual-wind movement. Perhaps perfectly contrasting some of the ‘out-there’ designs produced during the Quartz Crisis, the TV Screen has found itself grow into a piece that collectors cherish for its subtle aesthetic and contemporary sizing which makes it an easy watch to enjoy in today’s world of watches.

A wonderfully unique watch as we have come to know AP for, the TV Screen showcases a design language that contrasts that of the Royal Oak, a watch born during the same era, yet entirely different.