Audemars Piguet Watches

Audemars Piguet is known as one of the most influential mechanical watchmakers in the world. Since its foundation in 1875, the brand has been producing exquisite watches and movements that are considered as milestones of the history of Swiss watchmaking. Let’s explore more about its history and accomplishments to understand its charms. 

The journey of  Audemars Piguet becoming a prestigious luxury watch manufacturer began in 1875. The two talented watchmakers Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet joined forces and founded the brand. For over a century, the company has become one of the prominent figures in the Swiss watchmaking industry. Till today, the Audemars Piguet company is still being run independently by the founding families.

Both of the founders of Audemars Piguet were from the traditional watchmaker families and they had known each other already since their childhood. With their knowledge and skills inherited from their families, those two young watchmakers were working separately in the 1870s. In 1875 they started working together while Jules-Louis Audemars was in charge of creating the movements and Edward-Auguste Piguet was responsible for the final regulation and company management. They established the Audemars Piguet company in Le Brassus village located at the heart of La Vallée-de-Joux in the Swiss Jura. They officially announced the name in 1881. 

Audemars Piguet has strove for developing new innovations in watchmaking for over 100 years. The brand has delivered numerous groundbreaking pieces that are highly admired by watch collectors all over the world. 

In 1892, Audemars Piguet launched their first watch equipped with a perpetual minute repeater. A few years later in 1899, the brand launched the “Audemars Piguet Grande Complication” pocket watch. The watch was equipped with a handful of fascinating complications such as an alarm striking on its independent gongs, minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, deadbeat seconds, and a chronograph with jumping seconds. The complicated watch is one of the Audemars Piguet pocket watches that had received an award at the World Exhibition in Paris.

Although both of the founders Audemars and Piguet passed away respectively in 1918 and 1919, the company continued forward by their next generation and achieved even more success. 

Running by the founders’ sons, Paul Louis Audemars and Paul Edward Piguet, the brand had produced many of their first-ever watches during the 20th century. 

In 1921, Audemars Piguet released the smallest repeater movement and the first jumping hours wristwatch. The thinnest pocket watch caliber was created in 1925 and the first skeleton watch was released in 1934. 

Furthermore, in 1946, Audemars Piguet introduced the thinnest wristwatch at the time. The watch housed a movement with only 1.64mm thick. Around 20 years later the company again broke its own record and released the thinnest automatic watch in 1967. The watch even offered complications like central rotor and perpetual calendar. In 1987 Audemars Piguet released their first ultra-thin automatic tourbillon watch which was only 5.5mm thick including the case. 

At present, the AP watches are available in a wide range of collections which comes in various types of watches. Among the popular models, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Royal Oak Offshore are considered to be the flagship models of the brand. The AP Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore models have offered numerous updated versions with more new features that have made the watch even more popular amongst the watch lovers in the world.

So now to understand the brand's exceptional beauty, let's focus on some of its most sought-after models:

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

The AP Royal Oak watch is the most renowned masterpiece by Audemars Piguet. It was launched in 1972 at the Baselworld fair and regarded as the world’s very first luxury sports watch in steel. Coming with a revolutionary design, the watch offered an extraordinary package of features including water and shock resistance as well as high durability in order to cater all the sports watch lovers. The Royal Oak has soon become a huge success and one of the most iconic watches ever in history.

Designed by the legendary designer Gérald Genta, the original AP Royal Oak was inspired by the traditional diver’s brass helmets. Undergoing many complex technical and aesthetic considerations, surprisingly Gerald Genta finished the Royal Oak's design in less than 24 hours.

The most eye-catching feature of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch should be its eight-sided bezel. Its unorthodox shaped case featured details like the screw heads and water resistance gasket. These characteristics assimilated into the watch have made its overall look more immediately-striking.

The first Royal Oak watch was nicknamed as “Royal Oak Jumbo” because its 39mm case size was considered comparatively large at the time when it was launched. 

It applied a “monobloc” design in which the case was constructed and integrated with the steel bracelet. By this special construction, it provides extra durability without the risk of broken lugs. The simplicity of this design is also one of the most talked-about features that captivated the eyes of people.

The Royal Oak watch is equipped with the remarkable ultra-thin Calibre 2121 which was originally developed by Audemars Piguet with the partnership of Jaeger-LeCoultre as well as with the help from Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe.

The most well known Royal Oak model should be the one in steel construction. In addition to the Royal Oak steel men’s watch, the current lineup is also available in the AP watches for ladies and in options of other precious materials like yellow gold, rose gold, white gold and platinum. If you are looking for authentic Audemars Piguet Singapore is a good location where many stores there are offering watches at best prices. 

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore

The AP Royal Oak Offshore is a representative of strength and performance of an AP watch in the highest level. This advanced collection was introduced in 1993 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. It is designed by the young and talented watch designer Emmanuel Gueitcomes. The watch came with a 42mm case with the capability of water resistance up to 100 meters. Compared to its predecessor, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is bigger and sportier. It has successfully gained its supporters from Audemars Piguet clientele over the world. 

Holding up the legacy of a rich history and countless accomplishments, an Audemars Piguet watch is some piece that you should never miss. It will be a perfect companion for you on any occasion.