A Brief History of Audemars Piguet Watches

What do watch aficionados love most about Audemars Piguet? The brand is beloved for its high quality, its iconic presence, and its quest for innovation. From the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak to the Code 11.59, there is a model for everyone’s style and personality.

Let's explore a brief history of Audemars Piguet. Experience for yourself why this brand holds the reputation as one of the top 4 luxury watch brands worldwide.

The watchmaking brand originated in 1875 in the quaint Swiss Village of Le Brassus in Vallée de Joux, north of Geneva. Two young entrepreneurs (and childhood friends) Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet founded it in 1875. The manufacturer instantly distinguished itself in the watchmaking industry with its Grande Complication pieces.

As a reminder, the term “complication” in watchmaking refers to any function on a watch besides simply telling the time. There are a range of complications that we commonly see today, and there are also some rare and incredibly intricate complications that take years to create. In today’s horological market, popular complications include dual time-zone displays (as seen on Rolex GMT Master II watches), calendar displays, moon phase displays, and more. High-end luxury watchmakers like Audemars Piguet often combine multiple complications to produce incredibly unique timepieces that are coveted by watch enthusiasts worldwide.

The two made a great team. Audemars focused on creating complex watch movements to sell to watch manufacturers while Piguet focused on the regulation of watch movement. Audemars Piguet continues to push the limits of horological creativity, further solidifying the brand as the Master of Watchmaking.

Between 1882 and 1892, nearly 80% of the 1,600 watches produced included at least one, if not several complications. Until 1950, the manufacturer employed between 10 and 30 people. This number grew to 100 with the birth of the Royal Oak in 1971. The Royal Oak is Audemars Piguet’s most collected watch. It came at a time when the Swiss watch industry was facing an existential threat.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is often considered the first chapter in the heritage watchmaker’s modern day catalog. Let’s explore each of Audemars Piguet’s four hallmark lines to build on our knowledge of the brand’s incredible legacy.

When the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak line was born in 1971, the Swiss watch industry was undergoing a reckoning. There was great competition from Japanese watch brands that started making quartz timepieces. Swiss masons specialized in costly mechanical watches. Customers were on the lookout for a watch that they could wear all day no matter the occasion or condition. AP’s Italian agent at the time saw an opportunity for a high-end sports watch.

Recruited by AP Managing Director Georges Golay, legendary designer Gérald Genta was tasked with designing a new watch on the eve of the Swiss Watch Show, Basel (later known as Baselworld). With less than 24 hours, Genta worked all night designing what would become the masterpiece of his career…on a napkin, as all origin stories naturally begin. The metal collar of a deep-sea diving helmet inspired Genta's design. Exposing the screws on the bezel seems to be the inspiration from the outside of the divers’ suit.

The proposed watch had a petite "tapisserie" dial and an intricate wristband for flexibility. The stainless steel watch had an integrated bracelet, setting it apart from others on the market. Genta stood by his stainless steel design, even though it was comically more expensive than a dress gold watch. The octagonal bezel and eight hexagonal screws made of gold and white gold are what made the watch a modern icon.

The attractive octagonal watch went into production the following year. The prototype was white gold, as it was initially more cost-effective. Rumors of early commercial failure were greatly exaggerated over the years. While it took over a year to sell the first 1,000 Royal Oak watches, it was clear that Genta created the trend for luxury watches.

Some people had a hard time justifying that a stainless steel sports watch could be a high-end luxury watch. However, that didn’t stop people from wanting one. Between 1972 and 1978, the company produced 6,050 models (4,288 in steel, 876 in gold and steel, 736 in yellow gold, and 150 in white gold). The Royal Oak saved the company from bankruptcy.

In 2021, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this game-changing watch, Audemars Piguet released a special anniversary edition that evokes the construction and aesthetic of the original piece. Shop for this limited edition historical piece at Avi & Co., where you will find a robust inventory of Audemars Piguet watches to expand your collection.

The history of Audemars Piguet grows richer with each passing year. In 1993, designer Emmanuel Guiet recreated the Royal Oak for a younger audience. The talented 22-year-old knew exactly what young watch enthusiasts wanted. He delivered an upsized version of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.

The result was the ‘Offshore’ chronograph with a larger 42mm steel case that was thicker and more rugged. The Royal Oak Offshore was nicknamed the "Beast" for its fierce-looking sporty style and exceptionally rugged design. This was the first luxury sports watch with a big, bold twist.

Features of the Royal Oak Offshore:

The Royal Oak Concept catapulted the history of Audemars Piguet to the next level. Its futuristic design and ultra-modern aesthetics are what attract fans of the brand to these statement watches. Claude Emmenegger designed the first Concept while Renaud & Papi designed the movement.

Introduced in 2002, the Royal Oak Concept watch was masterfully crafted with materials used in the aeronautics industry. These materials are some of the most technologically advanced and extremely durable in watchmaking history. Featuring a titanium bezel that was exceptionally light, the Concept is shock-proof and water resistant up to 500 meters.

Audemars Piguet’s Concept is truly a functional sports and lifestyle luxury timepiece that is like no other. Audemars Piguet is sticking to a small series despite its popularity. This maintains that forward-thinking approach to craftsmanship and adds to the desirability of the watch with its limited edition feel.

Features of the Royal Oak Concept

Launched in 2019, the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 line is already making waves throughout the watch world. A departure from the Royal Oak variations that have been dominating the brand for decades, these watches offer round faces, textile or leather straps, and striking displays that cannot help but attract attention.

Features of the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59

Refined chiming, chronograph, and astronomical watches produced by hand are what remain the beating heart of the Audemars Piguetbrand. At Avi & Co., we ensure that we carry that same productivity. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. It has been the driving factor of our company’s success in the luxury watch market.

Our mission is to give you the most memorable and enjoyable shopping experience. Our knowledgeable sales team will go the extra mile to help you find the Audemars Piguet watch of your dreams. Our outstanding service does not end once your watch is delivered. Rather, our goal is to build long-lasting relationships with our customers.

The secondary market is a great source for watch collectors to buy or sell discontinued or rare watches. Most luxury brands require you to be on a waitlist for years to buy or sell. Some luxury brands even require you to purchase two or three timepieces to build your credibility. When you purchase a watch on the secondary market, you do not have to jump through all of those hoops.

With Avi & Co., you can buy a timepiece without the luxury market rules. You are paying for the convenience of owning what you desire. Our in-house watch repairman inspects all watches and our worry-free, two-year warranty backs every piece.

Join celebrities such as Serena Williams, Drake, and Lebron James and be a part of the progressive history of Audemars Piguet. Our diverse collection of Audemars Piguet timepieces will leave your luxury watch collection feeling like royalty. Visit us in New York, Miami, or Aspen to see which one suits your wrist best. Until then, tell us which model you prefer best below.