Why Audemars Piguet watches are so popular: A global brand of tradition and innovation

Audemars Piguet continues to lead the watch industry as a master of artistic complications. Modern and stylish luxury watches, such as the Royal Oak, are also attractive for their easy-to-wear designs for everyday wear. Experience the tradition and innovation of Audemars Piguet.

Audemars Piguet, one of the world's three major watch brands

Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet are known as the three biggest watch brands in the world. Let's take a look at the history of Audemars Piguet and why it is considered one of them.

Why it's called one of the world's three great clocks

Since its founding more than 145 years ago, Audemars Piguet has accumulated know-how in all types of complicated mechanisms and is renowned as a leader in artistic and innovative Swiss complications.

Audemars Piguet is also a rare maison that has remained run by the founding family since its founding.

The ever-evolving manufacture produces small-batch luxury watches that are highly valued for their rarity and boast the highest level of status.

Founded in the Vallée de Joux, the mecca of complicated timepieces

In 1875, Jules-Louis Audemars and Edouard-Auguste Piguet started a small watchmaking workshop in Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux, the heart of Swiss luxury watchmaking.

The two watchmakers produced movements for luxury watches, but in 1882 they started their own brand, Audemars Piguet, with Piguet in charge of sales.

Since then, the company has continued to produce luxury watches that combine sophisticated design and craftsmanship in a balanced way, including women's jewelry watches and ultra-complicated pocket watches.

In 1972, just after the quartz crisis, the brand released the Royal Oak, which overturned the conventional wisdom of luxury watches, and renewed its position as a top-class maison.

The philosophy behind Audemars Piguet's complicated watches

Audemars Piguet's luxury watches are the result of a philosophy that has remained unchanged since the company's founding and the accumulation of unbroken technology. Let's take a look at the challenges that only Audemars Piguet, a company that is not influenced by other companies' capital, can take on in watchmaking.

The tireless pursuit of smaller and thinner devices

The more complex mechanisms are incorporated, such as perpetual calendars and tourbillons, the larger the movement becomes.

To incorporate the perfect mechanism into a portable watch while still providing an elegant wearing experience, Audemars Piguet strives to make its movements smaller and thinner.

In 1921, they developed a pocket watch movement that was 1.32 mm thick, followed in 38 by a hand-wound movement that was 1.64 mm thick.

Since then, Audemars Piguet has continued to make an impact on the watch industry with its trend toward smaller and thinner watches, releasing a 78mm thick model with a perpetual calendar in 7.8 and a 4.8mm thick model with a tourbillon in 86.

Freehand design by artisans

Audemars Piguet's design process begins with a rough sketch by the designer. This is an important process in which the designer draws up a blueprint that includes not only the design of the case and dial, but also the internal design of the movement.

The design is carried out in close collaboration with the technical development department. 3D modeling is completed based on the sketch, and details such as the composition of the parts and the reflection of light are grasped.

A prototype is first made in wax, and if the technical challenges have been overcome, another prototype is made in precious metals, and thus the production of a perfectly designed watch begins.

Passionately crafted by dedicated craftsmen

Audemars Piguet watches are largely made by hand by skilled artisans, with multiple workshops working together to complete each watch over the course of several weeks to several months, from machining the parts to decorating and assembling them.

For example, to achieve the complex light reflections of Audemars Piguet's signature tapestry decoration, each plate requires 12 steps and seven hours of precise work.

Hundreds of parts are made by dedicated craftsmen, and the assembly of the movement and case takes an average of one month.

The skills handed down at the Manufacture and the passion of its dedicated craftsmen make Audemars Piguet luxury watches of great value.

Audemars Piguet's Classic Collection

Audemars Piguet embodies contemporary design by mastering complex mechanisms and miniaturization. Let us introduce three collections that represent the fruits of Audemars Piguet's challenges.

The Royal Oak, the brand's flagship model

First released in 1972, the Royal Oak is an iconic masterpiece of luxury sports watches that completely changed the perception of luxury watches.

It is also a masterpiece designed by Gerald Genta, and is characterized by a design in which the case and bracelet are integrated.

At the time, most luxury watches were made of solid gold, but the Royal Oak was made of stainless steel and featured an octagonal bezel with exposed screw heads.

The screws extend all the way to the case back, and a gasket is placed between the case and bezel, contributing to the watch's 50m water resistance. The bracelet has a smooth curve from the case to the buckle, making it extremely comfortable to wear.

The Royal Oak established the "luxury sports watch" genre and is now known as Audemars Piguet's flagship collection.

The more masculine Royal Oak Offshore

First released in 1993, the Royal Oak Offshore is an extreme sports watch based on the Royal Oak, but with a larger, more masculine finish.

The Royal Oak was released with a 39mm case diameter and was mockingly called "jumbo" when it was first released, but the Royal Oak Offshore was released with an even larger 42mm case.

The dial features a Mega Tapisserie pattern with a larger grid, as opposed to the Petit Tapisserie and Grand Tapisserie patterns of the Royal Oak.

Other features include a large crown guard, a screw-down crown, water resistance that exceeds that of the Royal Oak, a rubber strap, and an inner bezel that creates a sense of depth.

The CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet is a new classic for the brand.

"CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet" is a new collection unveiled at SIHH 2019. The name is made up of the initials of the four words that represent the brand's philosophy: Challenge, Own, Dare, and Evolve, as well as the numerals that represent 23:59 (11:59 PM), just before a new day begins.

The exterior features a dual structure with an octagonal middle case sandwiched between the lugs integrated with the bezel. The dial features three-dimensional indexes and the brand logo applied.

The sapphire crystal crystal arches from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock, and the inside of the glass is also curved, creating a unique wave pattern when the watch is viewed from the side.

At first glance, it may appear to be a simple watch, but it embodies Audemars Piguet's challenging creativity, making it an innovative collection that is positioned as a new standard for the brand.

Recommended Models

Audemars Piguet offers a wide range of models, centered around the Royal Oak. While there is a wide range of options, here we will introduce three models with standard designs.

The beautiful silver-colored Royal Oak Automatic

The Royal Oak Automatic (Ref. 15500ST), released in 2019, is a 41mm model equipped with a newly designed movement, and the silver color was added in 2020.

The Cal. 4302 movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of up to approximately 70 hours, which is an improvement over the previous Cal. 3120 in both frequency and power reserve.

The minute track is placed on the outside of the Grand Tapisserie dial for improved visibility, creating a smart and sophisticated impression. The design is suitable for a variety of outfits, and its luxurious, intricate shine is also appealing.

The 38mm size of the Royal Oak Chronograph appeals to both men and women.

The Royal Oak Chronograph (Ref. 26315OR) is a chronograph model that combines a silver-colored Grand Tapisserie with an 18K pink gold case and bracelet.

In addition to its elegant coloring, the 38mm case diameter makes it a model that exudes just the right presence when worn by both men and women.

Although it is small in size, the chronograph is easy to read and highly practical, and it also has the appeal of the Royal Oak, which can be worn with any style.

The elegant sunburst dial of the CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet

The CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet was launched in 2019. When it was first released, it was available in dial colors such as black, blue, and silver, but in 2020, an elegant sunburst pattern dial was added to the lineup.

It is equipped with the Cal. 4302, a three-hand automatic movement that was announced in 2019 after a development period of approximately seven years, and combines a high beat of 28,800 vibrations per hour with a long power reserve of approximately 70 hours.

The unique case is combined with a dial that gives a sense of depth, making this a model that offers a three-dimensional look.

Wear Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet is a master of complex mechanisms, but its exploration of mechanics also adds sophistication to its standard models.

If you're looking for a contemporary watch that adds a touch of luxury to your wrist, consider the latest models from Audemars Piguet.