The History of Audemars Piguet
The history of Audemars Piguet starts with Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet. Audemars was 23 and Piguet just 21 when they met at school. After graduation they both went on to work together in watch manufacturing in Vallee de Joux. By 1875 they founded the firm Audemars, Piguet et Cie.
Since 1882 members of both the Audemars and Piguet family have served on the board of trustees that overseas the company.
When the business first started out Audemars focused more on the technical aspects of the watches while Piguet focused on selling them. In 1882 the trademark for Audemars Piguet was registered. They did not have success at first but by the late 1800’s became the largest employers for watch-making in Southern Switzerland.
Audemars Piguet saw great success until the depression in the 1920’s. Their sales started to diminish and things looked grim. However, during WWII they started producing thin chronograph watches and thus created the market for luxury stainless steel watches.
It wasn’t until 1972 that the “Royal Oak” line was produced. That is the model most recognizable by Audemars today. It features an octagon shaped bezel which is exclusive for the Royal Oak.
Today Audemars Piguet is considered in the “big three” of the highest end luxury Swiss watch makers with Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. Their watches retail from around $10,000 all the way up to the hundreds of thousands. They have set a standard in which other luxury Swiss watch companies strive to achieve.
by, Seth Marcus at Boca Raton Pawn
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