Founded in 1875, Audemars Piguet has a rich and complex history, with many chapters yet to be explored. Sébastian Vivas, who has been director of the Audemars Piguet Museum since 2012, will explain how the small Heritage team organizes, enriches, and studies the brand’s archives and historical collections. Some research reveals surprises that require a thorough review.
What is the genesis of the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet? What are the main principles behind restoration? What guides the brand’s purchase strategy at auctions? Who is behind the major anniversary exhibitions?
At the March 2026 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Vivas will take you behind the scenes of a brand that is as historic as it is dynamic, where the Heritage Department is responsible for publications such as “The Watch – Stories and Savoir Faire”, and the AP Chronicles collectors’ platform
About Sébastian Vivas
In 2001, Sébastian Vivas obtained his Master’s in Modern History at the University of Neuchâtel. He went on to publish the history of the Journal Suisse d’Horlogerie, a study awarded by the Fritz Kunz prize. From 2001 to 2012, Vivas served as Heritage Manager at Jaeger-LeCoultre, where he contributed to several exhibitions, publications, and to the creation of the in-house museum, named the Heritage Gallery, inaugurated in 2007.
Since 2012, he has acted as Heritage & Museum Director at Audemars Piguet, where he oversees the study, structuring, preservation, and communication of the brand’s heritage. He is assisted in this mission by a diverse team, which includes restoration watchmakers, historians, and archivists.
Among his notable contributions, Vivas directed the book “The Watch,” published for the 150th anniversary of the company. He also directed and co-authored the book “Audemars Piguet 20th Century Complicated Wristwatches,” published in 2018, and the web platform APChronicles, launched in 2022. He also managed the project of the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, which opened its doors in 2020, and continues to curate its permanent and temporary exhibitions. Lastly, he has curated a variety of exhibitions for the brand, among which are “Beyond Watchmaking” (Shanghai 2016, Tokyo 2019) and “The House of Wonders” (Shanghai 2025, Dubai 2025).
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Details
Due to limited seating, tickets will be released according to this schedule:
Gold Members……………February 24 (3 PM ET)
Silver Members…………..February 25 (3 PM ET)
Bronze Members…………February 26 (3 PM ET)
General Public…………….February 27 (3 PM ET)
*A dedicated email with a unique code will be sent to each membership tier. Limit two (2) RSVPs per member.
The March 2, 2026, HSNY lecture will take place at the General Society Library in Midtown Manhattan, located at 20 West 44th Street, New York, NY, 10036. Free tickets are required to attend. Doors open at 5:30 PM and the lecture begins at 6 PM. All HSNY lectures are free, open to the public, and video-recorded. Recorded lectures are made available to HSNY members immediately, and to the general public with a two-month delay.
Hodinkee is a sponsor of the Horological Society of New York.
