The shape and finish of the case and bracelet are what make the Royal Oak the Royal Oak at all, so messing with it needed to be done carefully. Audemars Piguet and Bucci took the Florentine technique and worked together in applying it to the surface of the gold cases and bracelets of the new ladies' Royal Oak watches without altering the basic geometry. The finish creates a shimmery effect without adding diamonds, which (despite my secret love of bling) feels fresh in today's market, and it breathes new life into something we all assume we known so well.

But I think what Audemars has done well here is the utilization of a strong female designer such as Carolina Bucci, who is carrying on the legacy of the influential designs of Jaqueline Dimier, one of the most important female watch designers ever.