Audemars Piguet ranks as one of the most revered and prestigious watchmakers of all time. Founded in 1875, Audemars Piguet (also commonly referred to as simply “AP”) is one of the world’s oldest Swiss watchmakers and has maintained its esteem with impeccable and avant-garde designs. Here we explore the history and unique features of AP’s signature models.
Unquestionably, Audemars Piguet’s most recognizable and sought after models is the Royal Oak. Designed by legendary watchmaker Gerald Genta, the Royal Oak made a disruptive debut in 1972; the Royal Oak, with its highly unconventional octangular-shaped bezel inspired by a diver’s helmet, defied industry convention as a steel dress watch. Moreover, its staggering price tag (3300 Swiss Francs) made it ten times more expensive than its contemporary Rolex Submariner and critics largely dismissed the Royal Oak as a miss by Audemars Piguet. However, over time, the Royal Oak gained high-profile industry fans who considered the Royal Oak as a prized addition to their collection. In turn, the AP Royal Oak has blown up into one of most iconic designs and remains a highly sought-after and prestigious collector’s item. To learn more about the history of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, read our post on the topic here.
A spinoff of the Royal Oak, the equally impressive and distinguished Royal Oak Offshore was released to commemorate the Royal Oak’s 20th anniversary. The Royal Oak Offshore borrows its core design elements from the Royal Oak but, in step with modern tastes, boasts a hefty and robust size. Interestingly enough, like its predecessor, the Royal Oak Offshore was greeted with an initially cool reception. But, when looked at through the lens of 20/20 hindsight, the Royal Oak Offshore is considered the pioneer of the luxury sport watch trend. Today, the Royal Oak Off shore counts rapper Jay Z. and basketball legend LeBron James as some of its celebrity fans.
The Jules Ademars watch lifts its name from one of the Audemars Piguet founders and dutifully plays tribute to the watchmaker’s illustrious history and tradition. Strikingly different AP’s weighty and sporty Royal Oak and Royal Oak Off Shore models, the Jules Audemars collection is impeccably sophisticated and clean. The exquisitely refined design is marked for its round case and elegantly stark bezel; these two understated features ultimately distinguish the luxurious Jules Ademars watch.
The Audemars Piguet Millenary—so named in honor of the third millennium—is distinct for a variety of reasons: a striking oblong case, asymmetrical dials, stepped lugs and bezel, and, perhaps above all, a beautifully skeletonized dial. This mesmerizing dial dramatically showcases the intricate movement housed inside. The eccentric Millneary sits beautifully within the Audemars Piguet’s collection as a premier example of the brand’s impeccable design aesthetic.
Want to learn more about Audemars Piguet? Read our post on the History of Audemars Piguet to learn about the brand and how it was on the verge of collapse before the Royal Oak’s introduction.