SERENA WILLIAMS REIMAGINES AN AUDEMARS PIGUET ICON
words by BEX WHITLEY
More than a decade into their relationship, Serena Williams and Audemars Piguet translate performance, elegance and legacy into a new limited-edition Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph.
Serena Williams may have stepped back into competitive tennis this year, but elsewhere, she shows no signs of slowing down. The 23-time Grand Slam champion continues to expand her interests well beyond competitive sport. Now, her long-standing relationship with Audemars Piguet has entered a new chapter, with the pair collaborating on a new Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph.
The celebrity collaboration is nothing new, but its parameters are changing. Increasingly, the most interesting partnerships move beyond endorsement, bringing the collaborator further into the creative process and allowing something of their own taste and identity to inform the result. An ambassador for Audemars Piguet since 2014, Williams has regularly worn the Swiss watchmaker both on and off the court. More than a decade later, the move from ambassador to collaborator feels like a natural progression, with the resulting timepiece paying tribute to Williams and the “sense of empowerment she gained by consistently seizing the moment.” Given her reputation for using style as a form of self-expression, it seems only fitting that her own vision should inform the final piece.
Mother, athlete, entrepreneur and icon, Williams has become known for constant reinvention, never allowing herself to be defined by any one role. This duality is brought to life through a white ceramic rendering and an iridescent, pink-tinted mother-of-pearl dial, as well as the versatility of a second pink rubber strap, complete with white ceramic studs. The choice of pink is intentional, born from her belief that strength and feminine energy can exist side by side. Powered by Calibre 6401, the brand’s latest integrated chronograph movement developed entirely in-house, the timepiece marries the precision of the watchmaker with the elegance that informs the edition and the personality of the woman who inspired it.
“Serena’s influence extends far beyond sport. Through discipline, constant reinvention and a strong sense of community, she continues to open paths for women across fields.”
Serena Williams’ career has been defined by defying the odds, maintaining power and grace. The new timepiece, and the evolution of her relationship with Audemars Piguet, reflect her move into legacy status. Regardless of what comes next in competitive sport, Williams has entered a new era, one where time is measured less by what comes next and more by what endures.