Audemars Piguet, one of the world’s foremost Swiss luxury watch brands, began in 1985 in Le Brassus, Switzerland, when two childhood friends, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, reunited and began their partnership in the world of horology. The Royal Oak, first unveiled at Baselworld in 1972, is one of the brand’s most prized models. Generations of talented craftspeople have been nurtured by the company, to constantly develop new skills and techniques.
Audemars Piguet has created numerous masterpieces that showcase the company’s ancestral craftsmanship and forward-thinking essence. Audemars Piguet has established empowering exchanges among fields of creative practices and fostered and inspired community by sharing its passion with watch enthusiasts worldwide.
Luxury watches created by Audemars Piguet combine iconic designs with meticulously hand-finished movements. As a result, prices are well into the six figures and even if it’s expensive, it is worth it.
1. Royal Oak Selfwinding
The term “audacious” is overused in the watch industry, and while the Royal Oak may appear tame by today’s standards, it was audacious when it premiered in 1972. It was a valuable timepiece made of non-precious metal. AP left well enough alone over the years, and the rest, as they say, is history. The Royal Oak is a design icon and the most well-known AP collection. The Audemars Piguet price may be jaw dropping but as mentioned, it’s made of high-quality materials making it worth the price.
Our featured model, 15400, is the largest Royal Oak ever produced. Even icons must evolve with the times. Even though the case is 41 mm in diameter, it is hardly considered large by today’s standards. The blue Grande Tapisserie dial, also known as the “waffle” dial by some, is perhaps as well-known as the octagonal bezel. This classic will be instantly recognized by any watch enthusiast. It has an automatic-winding manufacture caliber 3120 with 40 jewels, a solid 22k gold winding rotor, and a 60-hour power reserve ticks below the patent dial.
2. Millenary 4101
The Millenary 4101 is Audemars Piguet’s contemporary version of the classic dress watch, and the case size and shape, like the Royal Oak Offshore, instantaneously differentiate this watch. This featured model, 15350ST, is 47 mm in diameter and ranges from 9 to 3.
Its case is the first thing that catches the eye, but the movement steals the spotlight. Unlike many other shaped watches, the Millenary’s in-house caliber 4101 movement perfectly fits the case and follows its form. Though this may appear to be a skeleton watch at first glance, it is not – no material has been removed from any component to improve the view. The small dials allow plenty of room to admire the traditionally finished movement beneath, and the sapphire showcase back provides visual pleasure from that side as well.
The movement was created to have a deep, three-dimensional effect. The design reveals the free-sprung balance at 3 o’clock, and AP has thoughtfully inverted the escapement to improve visibility from the dial side.
The Caliber 4101 is built with a solid 22k gold winding rotor that spins on ceramic bearings. Each part of the movement is hand-decorated. These time-consuming operations performed by highly trained specialists add significantly to the price of the watch. The front of the mainplate has horizontal Côtes de Genève and the back has perlage, or circular graining.
3. Royal Oak Offshore Diver
If the Royal Oak is an icon, its big brother, the Royal Oak Offshore (abbreviated “ROO” by those in the know), is a modern phenomenon. The ROO appears to be a natural development today, but when it was first proposed, even AP management was taken aback. Fortunately, the Offshore was approved, ushering in a new era for Royal Oak.
The Royal Oak Offshore Diver, reference 15703ST, is one of the most popular Offshore models. It has the “rubber-clad” accents that are common on Offshore models. The case measures 42 mm x 13.9 mm and is water-resistant to 300 meters. The crown at 10 o’clock rotates the internal bezel, which has the standard countdown markings.
4. Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph – 42 mm
Audemars Piguet introduced six new Royal Oak Offshore models, with this being one of the most popular. The watch is a 42 mm x 14.21 mm ROO Chronograph with a slate gray “elephant” dial and a gray hand-stitched Hornback alligator strap.
Black ceramic pieces have replaced the rubber accents on the pushers and crown. The new Mega Tapisserie dials have received positive feedback, and the snailed subdials add even more texture. Legibility is improved by the larger, faceted hour and minute hands.
The major revelation is on the other side of the case: newly added sapphire display backs reveal the caliber 3126 chronograph movement, complete with a solid 22k gold winding rotor. This movement has a cam-switching chronograph mechanism as well as stop-seconds for accurate time setting.
5. Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 44 mm
Consider the 44 mm x 14.13 mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph if you want something a little bolder than the 42 mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph shown above. The familiar black bezel, made of highly scratch-resistant ceramic, is retained on this model. On the 42 mm models, large rectangular pushers replace the smaller round pieces.
This model, like its smaller sibling, has the Mega Tapisserie dial, which is complemented by white gold hands and hour markers. The dial’s broad tachymeter on the outer parts helps in calculating speed over a specified wavelength.
The caliber 3126 automatic winding chronograph movement with 365 components is housed behind the dial. The movement has 59 jewels and runs at 21,600 vph. Continuous seconds at 12 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock, and a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock are among the dial registers. The watch has steel and ceramic 44-mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph with a rubber strap, ref. 26400.
Takeaway
Audemars Piguet luxury watches having a gorgeous design adhere to a set of standards and use only the highest-quality materials in their products To meet any criteria, they want to provide the highest level of accuracy and security. Buying an Audemars Piguet watch will make you stylish.
The combination of luxurious and one-of-a-kind designs, fine craftsmanship, best quality materials, and a rich history makes these classic watches collectible.
