5 Audemars Piguet Timepieces Every Watch Collector Needs

When you think of luxury watches a few major brands probably come to mind. We call them the big four: Patek Philippe, Rolex, Richard Mille, and Audemars Piguet. These revelatory brands continuously push the horological world forward in terms of innovation, creativity, and functionality. They also have rich histories and storied pasts that have lent them the prestige and reputation that they carry with them today.

Today, we focus our lens on one of the most impressive watch brands of them all: Audemars Piguet. Since 1875, this Swiss company has dominated the world of luxury timepieces, creating aesthetically stunning masterpieces in precision engineering and sophisticated aesthetics. An Audemars Piguet watch is so much more than just an accessory. It is a symbol of taste, class, and excellence in every avenue.

Whether you are a seasoned watch collector or you are just starting out in the horological arena, Audemars Piguet watches are an excellent addition to any collection. They showcase the very best of watchmaking prowess from traditional Swiss creators. However, when faced with the brand’s expansive catalogue, you may be unsure where to begin: Which Audemars Piguet timepieces are truly the best for a well-rounded watch collection?

Here at Avi & Co., our team of watch world experts prides themselves on having built a deep understanding of the horological sphere. As such, we are happy to point you in the right direction when it comes to building a memorable collection of Audemars Piguet watches. The timepieces that follow each exemplify one aspect of Audemars Piguet’s renown: tradition, innovation, creativity, craftsmanship, and wearability. Come with us and explore.

One of the most common questions we hear from early career watch collectors is, Where do I start? The world of luxury timepieces is filled to the brim with incredible creations that are sure to turn heads with glitz and glamour. But ultimately, you want to invest in watches that go beyond a superficial allure. Choosing a reputable, respected brand like Audemars Piguet as the bedrock for your collections is a surefire path to success.

Here are five of our favorite Audemars Piguet picks to start, complete, or simply fill out your watch collection in style.

We would be remiss to start this list anywhere other than the magnificent Royal Oak. Perhaps Audemars Piguet’s best-known watch line, the Royal Oak was originally a product of the 1970s, when the Swiss watch world was struggling to compete with the lower-cost Japanese quartz movements dominating midmarket sales. Audemars Piguet knew that surviving through this challenging time would require true innovation, and their team delivered tenfold.

Designed by the legendary Italian-Swiss mastermind Gerald Genta, the Royal Oak is said to be inspired by a diver’s helmet. Its octagonal bezel and exposed lugs were incredibly unusual for the time and continue to signify this watch’s prestige and unique profile today. While the original Royal Oak timepieces were crafted from stainless steel, the brand has since riffed on the classic time and time again, releasing models in a variety of precious metals and unique materials, even ceramic. You will also find Royal Oak watches with complications like chronograph dials, perpetual calendar displays, meticulously set diamonds, and much more. In fact, virtually all of Audemars Piguet’s most popular lines currently are variations on the stunning Royal Oak.

All that said, a watch collection that truly honors the legacy of Audemars Piguet must include a classic Royal Oak timepiece. We love the quiet elegance and striking simplicity of this stainless steel timepiece, which offers a versatile 41 mm silhouette and an unimposing silver index dial. The integrated bracelet, octagonal bezel, and exposed screws are nods to the brand’s original masterpiece of 50 years ago. This timepiece is truly a piece of history.

Fast-forward to the 1990s, and you will find Audemars Piguet’s next monumental creation on the scene: the Royal Oak Offshore line. Twenty years after the dawn of the original Royal Oak, the Swiss brand knew that modern consumers were seeking something a little different. Younger buyers wanted a watch that retained its luxury roots while providing a more rugged, contemporary aesthetic. Thus, the Royal Oak Offshore was born.

The Royal Oak Offshore was a monumental victory for Audemars Piguet, combining the precision and functionality of masterful Swiss watchmaking with a bold design and modern aesthetics. These timepieces offered larger case sizes and more versatile materials, including rubber bracelets. They also often showcase highly desirable complications, like chronograph pushers and date windows (both are seen on the “Grand Prix” edition of this watch, above). The Royal Oak Offshore is a perfect choice for the collector who wants to truly embrace the breadth of Audemars Piguet’s timeless innovations, celebrating both the elevated sophistication of the classic Royal Oak line and the adventurous creativity of the Offshore collection.

When we look at Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Concept collection, a few key adjectives come to mind: high-tech, futuristic, innovative, bold, beautiful. The Royal Oak Concept was introduced in 2002 to celebrate thirty years of the original Royal Oak line, and it did not disappoint. This collection is where Audemars Piguet experiments with new-age materials, stunning avant-garde designs, and incredibly complex mechanics that you will not see anywhere else. Form and function go hand in hand here; the brand never sacrifices wearability and real-life use cases for the sake of aesthetics. At the same time, the look of these watches is above and beyond the standard, showcasing a penchant for the sublime, the elevated, the unexpected.

Every Royal Oak Concept watch is unique and stunning in its own right. Many of them are limited edition runs or celebrity partnerships, and others still showcase popular movie characters, superheroes, artwork, and more. There is simply no end to the creativity displayed within the Royal Oak Concept line. Taking home one of these prestigious pieces is an absolute must for any serious Audemars Piguet watch collector.

It is true that we have already showcased one Royal Oak watch on this list, but it is impossible to exclude this monumental marvel. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar watches are both aesthetically exquisite and functionally elevated. They feature the same highly recognizable features that defined the original 1970s Royal Oak watches: the octagonal bezel, the integrated bracelet, the exposed screws, and the alternating brushed and polished surfaces. But now, the brand has elevated the classic even further with a gorgeous perpetual calendar display.

The perpetual calendar is one of the most advanced and desirable complications in watchmaking. It goes above and beyond a simple date display window or even an annual calendar, which must be wound once per year. The perpetual calendar never needs to be adjusted, even accounting for leap years. In fact, Audemars Piguet premiered the leap year indicator complication, which you can see on the 3 o’clock sundial of the watch above. This perpetual calendar timepiece shows the day of the week, the day of the month, the month, the leap year, and even the moon phase. This is truly a collectible Audemars Piguet watch, offering an unusual combination of durable and versatile stainless steel paired with this advanced, top-of-the-line complication.

We close out our list with a nod to the rest of Audemars Piguet’s catalog: Remember, this Swiss watch brand does offer models besides the Royal Oak and its sisters. From the Code 11.59 to the Millenary, seen above, Audemars Piguet’s creations are truly diverse and wondrous. A robust collection of Royal Oak watches is one thing, but any serious Audemars Piguet collector must also celebrate the variety seen in their favorite brand’s catalog.

We love the unusual look of the Millenary, shown here in 18K rose gold with a unique hammered brown dial. The 40 mm watch is oval-shaped in an East-West configuration. It is stunning in its purposeful minimalism, showcasing slender hour markers and just one timekeeping hand. The brown leather strap completes the traditional look, offering a masterclass in the sophistication and prestige of a light touch. This is a truly unique Audemars Piguet watch, and one that is sure to attract attention and fascination from your horological peers.

Here at Avi & Co., we are proud to be one of Manhattan’s premier destinations for both luxury watches and fine diamond jewelry. From Rolex to Richard Mille and from Audemars Piguet to Patek Philippe, our three showrooms are stocked with glamorous accessories and collectible timepieces that you will be thrilled to fasten around your wrist. Do not forget to explore our own Avi & Co. watch lines as well as our Diamonds by Avi & Co. jewelry line when you visit.

Make an appointment today to shop with us in person today. We cannot wait to welcome you into our Avi & Co. family.