Calibre 2003
1994. Calibre 2003SQ. Nearly a week of work at the bench is necessary to openwork Calibre 2003, which is only 1.64 mm thick. Movement 405270. Audemars Piguet Heritage.
1994. Calibre 2003SQ. Nearly a week of work at the bench is necessary to openwork Calibre 2003, which is only 1.64 mm thick. Movement 405270. Audemars Piguet Heritage.
1994. Calibre 2003SQ. Nearly a week of work at the bench is necessary to openwork Calibre 2003, which is only 1.64 mm thick. Movement 405270. Audemars Piguet Heritage.
1970 and 1971. Models 5214, 5293, 5415 and 5383. Identification photographs of the first models equipped with Calibre 2003SQ. Audemars Piguet Archives.
1994. Coin-watch. Calibre 2003SQ is cased up in a 20 dollar coin dating from 1904. Model 35677. Audemars Piguet Heritage, inv. 935.
1999. Royal Oak Haute Joaillerie 15073. Ultra-thin Calibre 2003SQ (1.64mm), skeletonised and engraved by hand, movement 456697. 30 mm Case D97610 in 18-carat white gold entirely paved with brilliant-cut diamonds. Audemars Piguet Heritage, inv. 1874.
1996. Royal Oak 14794. Ultra-thin Calibre 2003SQ (1.64 mm) openworked by hand, movement 405190. 30 mm Case D51477 in 18-carat white gold. Gemset hands. Audemars Piguet Heritage, inv. 926.
1996. Sketch for gemset hands notably used in 30 mm openworked Royal Oak models. Audemars Piguet Archives.
1952–2003. Calibre 2003. Diameter of 9 lignes (20.8 mm), thickness of 1.64 mm. Movement 68139 produced in 1957. Audemars Piguet Archives.
1952–2003. Calibre 2003. Diameter of 9 lignes (20.8 mm), thickness of 1.64 mm. Movement 68139 produced in 1957. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Mechanism
Selfwinding
Functions
Hours, minutes
Diameter
20.8 mm (9 lignes)
Thickness
1.64 mm
Frequency
18,000 vph (2.5 Hz)
Power Reserve
34 h
Jewels
17–18 rubies
Dates
1980–2003
Movement Blank
LeCoultre & Cie
Calibre 2003SQ is the openworked variation of the legendary Calibre 2003, whose history needs to be briefly recalled here. Introduced in 1952, this movement remained the world’s thinnest selfwinding mechanism for half a century. Its blank was developed by Maurice Audemars, at LeCoultre & Cie (later Jaeger-LeCoultre) under reference 803. As for Calibre 2120 and its derivative 2121, the Le Sentier Manufacture reserved the blanks of this exceptional calibre for three brands: Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe.
At Audemars Piguet, Calibre 2003 succeeded Calibre 9ML – a movement with similar dimensions produced by Louis Elisée Piguet, of which the Le Brassus Manufacture purchased 774 blanks between 1938 and 1952. This replacement can be explained by the longstanding partnership between Audemars Piguet and LeCoultre & Cie, debuted in the aftermath of WWII. Calibre 2003 immediately took on central importance in the collection, equipping dozens of models. In 1958, it equipped nearly 75% of Audemars Piguet watches. Over half a century, more than 60,000 units were produced, making it the most important calibre of the 20th century in terms of quantity.
In 1970, on the eve of the quartz crisis, Audemars Piguet decided to openwork this ultra-thin mechanism. For the occasion, the Manufacture chose bridges and plates in 14-carat gold. It took 5 years to complete the first 250 pieces. The operation demanded skill, know-how and patience: for the best artisans, this meant almost a week of work at the bench for a single movement. Success followed: more than 1,000 watches were produced in the 1970s, 400 in the following decade and 1,660 in the 1990s. In just over a quarter of a century, 3,460 Calibre 2003 blanks were purchased by Audemars Piguet for openworking.
Calibre 2003SQ equipped ten Royal Oak models (30 mm and 33 mm) between 1992 and 2000, for a total of 256 watches. Reference 14794 alone accounted for 60% of production. If we add the 25% of Model 14882, we understand why the other interpretations were manufactured in very small quantity, 10 units or less. Each one of these watches is a masterpiece of watchmaking, miniaturisation and often jewellery.
It is worth noting that Calibre 2003SQ was often fitted with gemset hands. However, once set, a hand becomes very heavy. Only a sufficiently powerful calibre can ensure its perfect rotation.
Royal Oak Models equipped with Calibre 2003SQ: 14795 (10 units from 1992); 14815 (2 units from 1993); 14794 (154 units from 1993); 14843 (13 units from 1993); 14882 (66 units from 1994); 14938 (4 units from 1995); 14926 (2 units from 1996); 15092 (1 unit in 1999); 15073 (1 unit in 1999).
Calibre 2003SQ is the openworked variation of the legendary Calibre 2003, whose history needs to be briefly recalled here. Introduced in 1952, this movement remained the world’s thinnest selfwinding mechanism for half a century. Its blank was developed by Maurice Audemars, at LeCoultre & Cie (later Jaeger-LeCoultre) under reference 803. As for Calibre 2120 and its derivative 2121, the Le Sentier Manufacture reserved the blanks of this exceptional calibre for three brands: Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe.
At Audemars Piguet, Calibre 2003 succeeded Calibre 9ML – a movement with similar dimensions produced by Louis Elisée Piguet, of which the Le Brassus Manufacture purchased 774 blanks between 1938 and 1952. This replacement can be explained by the longstanding partnership between Audemars Piguet and LeCoultre & Cie, debuted in the aftermath of WWII. Calibre 2003 immediately took on central importance in the collection, equipping dozens of models. In 1958, it equipped nearly 75% of Audemars Piguet watches. Over half a century, more than 60,000 units were produced, making it the most important calibre of the 20th century in terms of quantity.
In 1970, on the eve of the quartz crisis, Audemars Piguet decided to openwork this ultra-thin mechanism. For the occasion, the Manufacture chose bridges and plates in 14-carat gold. It took 5 years to complete the first 250 pieces. The operation demanded skill, know-how and patience: for the best artisans, this meant almost a week of work at the bench for a single movement. Success followed: more than 1,000 watches were produced in the 1970s, 400 in the following decade and 1,660 in the 1990s. In just over a quarter of a century, 3,460 Calibre 2003 blanks were purchased by Audemars Piguet for openworking.
Calibre 2003SQ equipped ten Royal Oak models (30 mm and 33 mm) between 1992 and 2000, for a total of 256 watches. Reference 14794 alone accounted for 60% of production. If we add the 25% of Model 14882, we understand why the other interpretations were manufactured in very small quantity, 10 units or less. Each one of these watches is a masterpiece of watchmaking, miniaturisation and often jewellery.
It is worth noting that Calibre 2003SQ was often fitted with gemset hands. However, once set, a hand becomes very heavy. Only a sufficiently powerful calibre can ensure its perfect rotation.
Royal Oak Models equipped with Calibre 2003SQ: 14795 (10 units from 1992); 14815 (2 units from 1993); 14794 (154 units from 1993); 14843 (13 units from 1993); 14882 (66 units from 1994); 14938 (4 units from 1995); 14926 (2 units from 1996); 15092 (1 unit in 1999); 15073 (1 unit in 1999).
