Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph

One of the most iconic names in Swiss watchmaking today, Audemars Piguet was established in 1875 by Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet in the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking itself –the Vallée de Joux, Le Brassus. 

Audemars Piguet has cemented its 140-year legacy with an unrivalled ability to time-and-time again shatter the metaphorical horological ceiling in all facets technical and aesthetic. Its myriad of record-breaking releases over the century have, without doubt, paved the way for the era of modern horology we are so familiar with today.

A brand notorious for its bold releases, most bold of all, perhaps, was the debut of the Royal Oak in 1972 as the world’s first luxury sports watch crafted in stainless steel. The release sent shock waves throughout the watchmaking industry, but has since become the definitive blueprint of the modern steel sports watch, and its octagonal case one of the most sought after silhouettes in the world. AP’s later icons such as the Royal Oak Offshore and Concepts have further propelled the brand to new heights – not only within the watch industry, but also fostering its emergence as a 21st-century cultural icon. Today, APs transcend the world of watchmaking and double as a symbol of status and prestige, its pieces adorning the wrists of celebrities and royalty alike.
 

Despite trailblazing its way through modern Haute Horlogerie, tradition remains engrained in Audemars Piguet’s DNA -- it is the largest independent Swiss watchmaker still owned by its founding families. It is this connection that allows AP to marry its rich heritage and expertise in traditional watchmaking with ground-breaking design and craftsmanship. Each and every wristwatch boasts the manufacture’s complex savoir-faire and mastery of complications – and Audemars Piguet will no doubt continue to shift the paradigm of horology in the years to come, whether the world likes it or not.