The story of celebrated family-owned manufacturer Audemars Piguet and its universally acclaimed, widely coveted luxury watches begins deep in the Jura Mountains in western Switzerland.
The Vallée de Joux has been a haven of watchmaking since the late 18th century, when the residents of farming communities began creating timepieces during the winter months.
Jules Louis Audemars (1851–1918) and Edward Auguste Piguet (1853–1919), both natives of the region, were already deeply entrenched in the world of watchmaking when they joined forces to form a new house of horology near the end of the 19th century, an alliance that would be the start of a multigenerational family company. With complementary specialties within the field, Audemars and Piguet made the perfect pair in 1875: Audemars, the more technically minded of the two, oversaw production, while Piguet specialized in quality control and led the business and marketing parts of the outfit.
Audemars Piguet’s first major milestone came in 1892, when it created the world’s first minute-repeating movement for a wristwatch. (It was sold to Omega, whose origins date to 1848.) That was soon followed in 1899 with the Universelle pocket watch, a masterpiece of horology that boasted a perpetual calendar, minute repeater, alarm and chronograph with jumping seconds. It is still said to be the most complicated timepiece that Audemars Piguet has ever designed.
Between 1918 and 1919, both founders of Audemars Piguet had died and were replaced by their respective sons, incidentally both named Paul. Under the leadership of Paul Louis Audemars and Paul Edward Piguet, the watchmaker continued to innovate. It retained an ever-evolving technical focus and found new praise for its efforts, producing the world’s thinnest pocket-watch caliber in 1925, the first skeletonized pocket watch in 1934 and the world’s thinnest wristwatch in 1946.
When the quartz crisis of the 1970s left many watchmakers in the lurch, Audemars and Piguet found a creative solution, tapping the Geneva-born Gérald Genta to conceive the first-ever luxury watch in stainless steel. Launched at what would become the Baselworld watch and jewelry fair in 1972, the Royal Oak, with its octagonal face and integrated bracelet, would come to define the look of Audemars Piguet and revolutionize the luxury wristwatch industry, setting a standard that continues to this day.
Find a collection of vintage Audemars Piguet wristwatches and pocket watches on 1stDibs.
Swiss 14K Gold 52.45mm Minute Repeater Chronograph Alarm Pocket Watch, 32 Jewels
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional 19th-century Swiss 14K solid gold minute repeater pocket watch, featuring a rare combination of chronograph, mechanical alarm, and 32-jewel high-grade movement—a true ...
14k Gold
A. Lange & Söhne, 18 Karat Gold, Chronograph Pocket Watch, 1898 Constantinopel
By A. Lange & Söhne
Located in Berlin, DE
This exquisite and rare pocket watch from A. Lange & Söhne represents an extraordinary combination of historical craftsmanship and timeless elegance. Manufactured around 1898, it embodies the high art of Saxon watchmaking tradition. The heart of this precision pocket watch...
Gold, 18k Gold
English Minute Repeater Chronograph 18ct Yellow Gold Keyless Lever Pocket Watch
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A heavy English minute repeater chronograph 18ct yellow gold keyless lever full hunter pocket watch, C1898. Dial: The white enamel with Roman numerals, outer minute track with Arabic numerals. The subsidiary seconds dial is located at six o'clock and the minute recorder dial for the stopwatch is located at twelve o'clock. The original blued steel hands with a gold centre second hand. Case: The massive English hallmarked 18ct yellow gold case (198grm) with plain front and back covers. The slide for the repeater is on the side of the case. The inner cuvette has an interesting inscription stating that the watch was gifted as a Token of respect and goodwill to Brother R. Kelly by fellow members of a Masonic Lodge in March 1899. The casemaker was Philippe Woodman who worked out of Northampton Square, Clerkenwell London Movement: The unsigned fully jewelled and numbered movement with part Swiss engraved on the movement meaning that some components were supplied by Swiss watch houses. The chiming of the hours quarters and minutes are very clear. The chronograph mechanism is located under the dial. This is an exceptionally heavy gold pocket watch...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Longines Chronograph Minute Repeater 18K Gold Pocket Watch, Extract from Archive
By Longines
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
TO U.S.A BUYERS: DON’T SWEAT ABOUT 15% TRUMP’S TARIFF - WE COVER IT BY GIVING YOU 15% DISCOUNT! This extraordinary & extremely rare antique pocket watch by Longines is a Minute R...
18k Gold
A Swiss Perpetual Minute Repeater Chronograph Full Hunter Pocket Watch C1900
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A Swiss 18ct Rose Gold Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeater Chronograph Full Hunter Keyless Lever Pocket Watch C1900 Dial: The perfect white enamel dial with Arabic numerals outer min...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Bornand Genève Pocket Watch in 14kt Gold – Manual Wind with Breguet Hairspring
Located in Milano, MI
Rare pocket watch signed Bornand Genève, crafted in 14kt gold around the late 19th century. It features a manual wind movement with Breguet hairspring, 17 jewels, and remontoir syste...
Gold
Arnold & Charles Frodsham 18 Karat Gold Half-Hunter Pocket Watch, Chronograph
Located in Berlin, DE
This rare and elegant half-hunter pocket watch by Arnold & Chas. Frodsham is a true collector’s piece, crafted from solid 18K gold with a triple-hinged case. Weighing an impressive 1...
Gold, 18k Gold
A. Lugrin Minute Repeating Chronograph Pocket Watch
Located in New Orleans, LA
Crafted by Swiss watchmaker Alfred Lugrin, this exceptional minute repeating, triple-date chronograph is a specimen of precision timekeeping. Housed in a...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, Steel
Patek Philippe. A Rare Gold Hunter Chronograph 1908
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
Patek Philippe. A Rare 18ct Yellow Gold Keyless Lever Hunter Chronograph Pocket Watch C1900. Dial: The excellent white enamel dial fully signed Patek Philippe & Cie Geneve with blac...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
A Gold Full Hunter Quarter Repeater Calendar Chronograph Pocket Watch C1900
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An 18k Yellow Gold Full Hunter Chronograph Calendar Quarter Repeater Keyless Lever Pocket Watch, C1900's. Dial: A white enamel dial with roman nu...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Antique Chronograph Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1909 Patek Philippe Open Face Chronograph Pocket Watch, 50 mm diameter 18k Yellow Gold 3 piece case with inside dust cover, White Porcel...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Tiffany & Company Patek Philippe Antique Yellow Gold Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1920 Patek Philippe for Tiffany & company Pocket watch, 45 M.M. 18k Yellow Gold 4 piece case including Gold inside Dust Cover. 20 Jewel, mechanical, manual wind nickle leve...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vacheron & Constantin Vintage Yellow Gold Pocket watch
By Vacheron Constantin
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1940s Vacheron & Constantin Pocket Watch, 43 M.M. 14k Yellow Gold 3 piece case, Caliber VXN 17 jewel mechanical, manual wind movement. Older restored Silver Satin Dial wit...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
IWC Schaffhausen Yellow Gold Pocket Watch for Raymond Yard
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1930 International Watch Company IWC Schaffhausen Pocket Watch Retailed by Raymond Yard, 44 M.M. Diameter and 8 M.M. thick 14K Yellow G...
14k Gold
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold and Enamel Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1913 Patek Philippe Pocket Watch for Retailer Spaulding and Company , 45 M.M. 18k Yellow Gold 4 piece case including the Yellow Gold Cuvette (Dust Cover) Greek Key Pattern Blue...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Audemars Piguet Ref 4161 Automatic Yellow Gold Wrist Watch
By Audemars Piguet
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1990s Audemars Piguet Reference 4161BA Wrist Watch, 33 M.M. diameter x 6 M.M thick 18K Yellow Gold 2 piece case with stepped bezel. Caliber 2123/1 21 Jewel Automatic, self w...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
The timepiece features a pink dial to celebrate the arrival of a baby girl
As the watch world celebrates one of fine timekeeping’s most disruptive designs, AP archivist Sébastian Vivas tells tales from the piece’s storied history.
