Bal Harbour

M ichael Friedman loves his job— especially as he has to explain what he does to almost everyone he meets. As Audemars Piguet's in-house historian, Friedman—who, with his shaved head, glasses and salt-and-pepper beard gives off the vibe of a college professor—describes his work as "a pie with many pieces." Indeed it is a big pie, filled with the staples of an historian's diet: researching and writing, often in the archives maintained by the Heritage Department at Audemars Piguet's headquarters in Le Brassus, Switzerland; traveling around the world to meet with press, current and potential collectors; a hefty program of lectures and panels about the industry and the brand's role as a family-owned company in the preservation and progress of fine watchmaking, as well as attending auctions and visits to watch dealers. His preparation for this role began in the 1990s while still a student at Clark University where he studied psychology and interdisciplinary studies, and wrote several papers on horology, the study of time measurement. Before joining the company, Friedman worked as a museum curator, auction house expert, appraiser and advisor to institutions and private clients, including guitarist Eric Clapton. "The primary function that I have is weaving the history of Audemars Piguet— the watches and watchmakers, executives and family members—into the narrative of what the company does today." Weaving history into present day PERPETUALLY ON TIME Audemars Piguet's Historian Michael Friedman sits down with watch expert Michael Clerizo to discuss the enduring appeal of timekeepers. 98 BAL HARBOUR TKTKTKTKTKTKTKTK For the last four years, Audemars Piguet has been a sponosr of Art Basel, commissioning artists to create memorable installations, like this one by Chinese artist Sun Xun.

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