Audemars Piguet appeared in Michael Bastian's New York Fashion Week show.

—ROBERTA NAAS, ATimelyPerspective.com

Last week, during New York City’s fashion week, Audemars Piguet was seen on the runway with Michael Bastian—for the third consecutive season. Bastian, named 2011 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year, showed his newest collection at Focus: Café Rouge and featured new pieces from Audemars Piguet’s collection on the runway. Among the watches that complemented Bastians’ collection of tailored clothing, sportswear, and accessories were the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Perpetual Calendar, the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 44mm and the Royal Oak Offshore Diver in ceramic.

Bastian’s inspiration for the season was the American painter Andrew Wyeth and his dark, spare, introspective vision of Maine and New England. The collection color palette was darker than in previous seasons and included black, olive, red, and indigo with brighter hues of raincoat yellow and hunter orange for added effect. Fabrics were rugged yet luxurious with brushed tweeds, leather, moleskin, and shearling use to great effect.

Founder and editor-in-chief of ATimelyPerspective.com, Roberta Naas is a veteran award-winning journalist in the watch industry with more than 25 years of experience. She was the first woman watch editor in the US market—breaking in to an “all boys network” with a pioneering spirit that would be her signature to this day. Naas brings responsible, factual—yet always timely and insightful—reporting of the watch industry to the forefront.