It’s honestly quite hard to wrap my head around this release. It’s so unexpected for me in a way that the [RE]Master 01 and 02 were not. Maybe it was the size of both of those watches that made them seem further removed from the vintage watches that inspired them. This, on the other hand, might be too small for some people, but keep in mind, the dimensions shared below don’t include the lugs. Without the lugs, it’s actually in line with the width and length of a large-size Cartier Tank Must, which is considered a classic. In reality, it should wear a bit larger.
The dial treatment is the only other cue from the front that this is more modern than just a 1-to-1 reissue, and yet, it doesn’t preclude the brand from doing other versions that trend more vintage. AP has a long history of doing jump hours, so this feels both faithful and somehow surprising. Then there’s the complete surprise of a collection as a whole. I’m on the ground in Switzerland today to see the new releases, so I’ll bring you a Hands-On as soon as I can.