Audemars Piguet

There was a time when Audemars Piguet was forced to adjust its pricing due to softness in the market, but luckily for the brand and its dedicated collectors, its watches have remained in demand, and for all the right reasons. Here are a few reasons why Audemars Piguet is such a special watchmaker…..

From a successful experiment to writing history – why Audemars Piguet watches are so special

If you’ve experienced any measure of success in life, you’ve more than likely invested in a Rolex watch or a Patek Philippe watch. Both companies are highly desirable and well-recognised within watch collecting circles. Audemars Piguet however, sits in between the two and may not be as well recognised. They’re more expensive than a Rolex watch yet not as popular as a Patek Philippe watch. Audemars Piguet became part of an iconic hip hop culture after artists like Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Chris Brown and Jay-Z sniffed them out. Understandably, after this Audemars Piguet went on to experience a huge rise in brand awareness, which was great for marketing, yet the company remain most loved for more important reasons. Reasons that will stick with a watch enthusiast whether experienced or new to the watch collecting world.

The brand’s story all started when a technology student, Jules Louis Audemars met economy student, Edward Auguste Piguet. Their shared vision for success led to the opening of a watch factory, initially intended as an experiment in 1875. Their high-quality timepieces included the world’s thinnest pocket watch, the first-ever skeleton watch and exhibition case backs that exposed the intricate assembly of a beautifully manufactured in-house movement. Audemars Piguet watches grew to be some of the most successful in the industry.

The Royal Oak

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch was born in 1972. Creator, Gerald Genta had only 24 hours to come up with the iconic design. This iconic, radical and modern timepiece is yet another reason why the Swiss company is so special. The watch’s robust case with an octagonal shaped bezel was the first steel sports watch. Since then the brand has gone on to create exceptionally beautiful perpetual calendars and exquisite tourbillons for improving accuracy, yet the iconic Royal Oak watch prevails still to this day. It gave collectors who had been waiting to get their hands on a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch an alternative to fall in love with. Next came the Royal Oak Offshore – a watch with intensified masculinity and a more powerful, sporty take on the Royal Oak’s aesthetics.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
Photo by section215, reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

What brings a watch collector back to an Audemars Piguet watch time and time again however, is the company’s unwavering dedication to creating wristwatches of the highest quality. Premium materials like their black ceramic, their polished and satin-brushed steel case and their white gold screws ensure longevity upon the wrist, combined of course by century-old manufacturing methods that have never faltered or failed to deliver.

What remains undisputed is Audemars Piguet’s unshakable reputation within the world of Haute Horlogerie. Dedicated collectors, artists, deep-sea divers, sportsmen and sportswomen have relied upon these timepieces, synonymous with high-performance and high precision for all manner of challenges. With in-house developed movements, captivating “tapisserie”-patterned dials and rare case shapes that reflect the company’s dynamic approach to watchmaking – Audemars Piguet watches will always remain a special brand with a special history.

Buy an Audemars Piguet Watch

One thing’s for sure: you will not see many APs on eBay! Even Jura Watches rarely have them in stock – this is one watch you are really going to need to seek out from an authorised dealer.

By Nina Scally

Aside from juggling nappies, tantrums and failing at pastry-making, Nina has been writing for the luxury watch industry both as a hobby and for a living for the past 8 years. Writing to a male-dominated audience can be challenging at times. But she likes a challenge. Just not pastry.

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