Audemars Piguet is the rebel genius of haute horlogerie. Known for innovation, bold design, and impeccable craftsmanship, AP has been shaping Swiss watchmaking since 1875. Let’s take a spin through their legacy:
Founding in Le Brassus (1875)
They built watches together from day one, making complete, complicated movements in-house, which was rare even back then.
Founded by:
Jules Louis Audemars (movement maker)
Edward Auguste Piguet (watch finisher & regulator)
Location: Le Brassus, Vallée de Joux, Switzerland—still their home today.
AP is still independently owned by the founding families—an extremely rare thing in modern Swiss watchmaking.
Early Legacy: Master of Complications (Late 1800s–1930s)
In the 1920s–30s, they crafted ultra-thin dress watches and lavish Art Deco designs—many custom-made for royals and collectors.
Specialized in grande complications early on—combining minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, and chronographs in pocket watches.
Created the world’s first minute-repeating wristwatch in 1892.
Mid-20th Century: Quiet Excellence
Developed some of the thinnest movements in the world, like the Caliber 2120, which still powers the Royal Oak “Jumbo” models today.
Continued making exquisite, often one-off complicated watches.
1972: The Royal Oak Changes Everything
It later became AP’s signature and saved the company.
Facing pressure from the Quartz Crisis, AP took a radical leap:
Designed by Gérald Genta, the Royal Oak was the first luxury sports watch in stainless steel.
Iconic features:
Octagonal bezel with exposed screws
Integrated bracelet
“Tapisserie” textured dial
Originally priced like a gold watch, it shocked the market but redefined luxury.
Royal Oak Offshore (1993): A Bold Reinvention
- A beefed-up, more aggressive take on the Royal Oak.
- Polarizing at first, but now beloved for its size, attitude, and celebrity associations.
- Nicknamed “The Beast”, it helped AP dominate the oversized sports watch trend.
21st Century: Innovation & Identity
2019: Introduced a new line, the Code 11.59—a more traditional round watch that blends heritage with modernity. It had a rocky start but has since earned respect for its complex case design and movements.
Focused on:
In-house movements (especially since 2000s)
High complications (tourbillons, perpetual calendars, minute repeaters)
Material innovation (forged carbon, ceramic, and exotic finishes)
Watchmaking Firsts & Highlights
- World’s first skeleton watch (1934)
- First luxury sports watch in steel (1972)
- Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in ceramic
- Innovative escapements and acoustic minute repeaters
AP Today
Worn by everyone from LeBron James to Jay-Z, Serena Williams to John Mayer forefront of architectural innovation, fostering a global community of architects and enthusiasts united by a passion for creating spaces. Every architectural endeavor is an opportunity to shape the future.
Still family-owned (Audemars & Piguet families).
Boutique-only sales model—tight control over distribution.
Flagship models:
Royal Oak “Jumbo”
Royal Oak Offshore
Code 11.59
Royal Oak Concept (futuristic, experimental line)
Philosophy
“To break the rules, you must first master them.”
That’s AP’s motto—and they live it. They balance tradition with boldness in a way few brands dare to.