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.
Vintage 1970s Audemars Piguet Pocket Watch Skeleton 18K Yellow Gold Manual 42mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
A Masterclass In Horological Art Before the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet built its reputation on producing some of the most refined and technically complex dress watches in the world....
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Audemars Piguet Skeleton Pocket Watch 18k YG 1980s
Located in SYDNEY, AU
SKU 2263 Brand Audemars Piguet Model Skeleton Pocket Watch Diameter 45.4mm Movement Automatic Weight 46.5g Box No Papers No
1970s Audemars Piguet Skeleton Pocket Watch 18K Yellow Gold Manual 42mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
An Exhibition Of Pure Craft Before the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet built its legacy on high-complication and dress watches of the highest order. This skeletonized pocket watch from the 1970s is a definitive statement of that heritage. It represents a form of watchmaking where the movement itself is the dial, and the artistry of the engraver is the main event. Pieces like this were created in exceptionally small numbers, showcasing the pinnacle of the manufacture's hand-finishing capabilities for its most discerning clients. A Rare And Elevated Specification This is not a standard execution. While any AP skeleton watch...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1990s Croton Skeleton 18K Yellow Gold Manual Wind 33 mm
By Croton
Located in New York, NY
A Clear View Of Classic Watchmaking A skeleton dial strips a watch down to its mechanical essence, revealing the intricate world of gears and springs that power it. Doing so in a so...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Universal Genève 18K YG Manual Skeleton Dial 30 mm
By Universal Genève
Located in New York, NY
The center is the show At first glance you see black. Then you notice the gold skeleton work opening up the middle of the dial. This Universal Genève from the late 1980s to early 19...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$70,828
D 0.41 in Dm 1.46 in
Platinum Vacheron Constantin Skeleton Watch, Automatic, Les Historique, Limited
By Vacheron Constantin
Located in Antwerp, BE
Extremely Beautiful Platinum Vacheron Constantin Skeleton Watch from the Les Historiques , Malte Collection limited to 247 Pieces worldwid...
Platinum
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Squelette Skeleton 43502/000G
By Vacheron Constantin
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A white gold Patrimony Squelette by Vacheron Constantin from their Les Complications collection. Features a skeleton dial complemented by a diamond set white gold bezel. Fitted with sapphire crystal and a manual wind movement which can be seen via the exhibition case back. The watch comes with a generic black leather strap that is equipped with a Vacheron white gold...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Corum Golden Bridge Stream Skeleton Limited Edition 18K Rose Gold watch
Located in New York, NY
Corum Golden Bridge Stream Skeleton Limited Edition 18K Rose Gold watch For more details leave us a message Model Golden Bridge Reference Number B 313/03296 Gend...
18k Gold
$1,249
H 1.7 in W 0.48 in D 1.7 in Dm 1.7 in L 1.7 in
Noda G75 Skygold Limited Edition 43MM Gold Skeleton Dial Automatic Watch
By Noda
Located in New York, NY
New Limited Edition. Comes with the original box and papers. 7-year warranty. Assembled in USA with Japanese movement.
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1991 Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars 25685BA Dual Time 18K YG Auto 36mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
A Complication With Classic Intent Before the Royal Oak became the brand's icon, Audemars Piguet was a master of complicated dress watches. The Jules Audemars line is a direct link ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 1670 Gold and Steel Automatic Wrist Watch
By Audemars Piguet
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1990s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Reference 1670 Wrist Watch, 37 M.M. Stainless Steel 3 piece case with 18k Yellow Gold bezel, caliber 2121 Automatic, self winding movement, char...
Gold, Steel
Audemars Piguet Yellow Gold Ellipse Automatic Wrist Watch
By Audemars Piguet
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980 Audemars Piguet "Ellipse" Wrist Watch, 33 x 31 M.M 18k Yellow Gold 2 piece Cushion case, Automatic, self winding movement, Gold Satin dial with Black Roman Numerals. New B...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Power Reserve Automatic Yellow Gold Wrist Watch
By Vacheron Constantin
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2010 Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Reference 47200/1 Wrist Watch, 36 M.M. x 10 M.M. thick 18k Yellow Gold 2 Piece case with Exhibition Back, 45 Jewel Automatic, Self winding movement. Silver Satin Textured Dial with Raised Gold markers, Power reserve, Date chapter and sub seconds chapter. Brown Vacheron Constantin Leather Strap with Vacheron 18k...
18k Gold
Cartier Centure 1970s Yellow Gold Manual Wind Wrist watch
By Cartier
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970s Cartier Paris Centure Collection Wrist Watch, 18k Yellow Gold 27 X 27 M.M. 2 Piece stepped case. 17 jewel mechanical, manual wind movement. White Dial with Black Roman nu...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Corum vintage Ladies Yellow Gold and Diamond Wrist Watch
By Corum
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970 Corum Ladies Wrist watch, 26 x 22 M.M 18k Yellow Gold 2 piece Oval case with flexible Horse Bit Lugs, set with Fine White Round Brilliant cut Diamonds totaling 1 Carat. 17...
Diamond, 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.
