Audemars Piguet Geneve
20th Century Swiss Artisan Pocket Watches
Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage 1910s Swiss Art Nouveau Wrist Watches
18k Gold
Vintage 1920s Swiss Art Deco Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1950s Swiss Retro Retro Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
20th Century Artist Wrist Watches
Quartz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1920s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
Platinum
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Chain Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Chain Necklaces
Coral, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s French Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
Antique 1890s Swiss Pocket Watches
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Pocket Watches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
Platinum
Mid-20th Century Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Antique 19th Century American Pocket Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Danish Modernist Link Necklaces
Silver, Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s American Victorian Pocket Watches
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
Vintage 1970s French Modernist Cocktail Rings
Hematite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Steel
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Rose Gold
1990s Swiss Wrist Watches
18k Gold, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches
18k Gold
Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Pocket Watches
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches
18k Gold
Swiss Wrist Watches
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
Stainless Steel
Swiss Wrist Watches
Sapphire, Stainless Steel
Swiss Wrist Watches
Sapphire, Stainless Steel
Swiss Wrist Watches
Sapphire
Audemars Piguet for sale on 1stDibs
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.
Finding the Right Watches for You
Records show that, in Europe, by the 16th century, it was high time for portable clock devices. Right now, perhaps you’re shopping for your own. If so, find a vast range of fashionable and functional antique, new and classic vintage watches on 1stDibs.
While wall-mounted time tellers and grandfather clocks were much more convenient than the sundials of ancient history, watches were becoming crucial for an increasingly connected society whose members learned that the latest advancements in technology meant they could carry devices that kept time to within a minute a day. Tragically, the first pocket watches — albeit an improvement on the accessories that preceded them, which dangled from a chain worn around the neck — didn’t help much as far as accuracy or portability. Focused on style over substance, the upper class frequently carried lavish pieces that ran hours behind.
Eventually, watches migrated from owners’ pockets to their wrists. In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.
Indeed, although exceedingly practical, the watches of today are far from bland. Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional watches. You’ll always know what time it is because you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from your new accessory.
Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.
When shopping for a watch, it’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.
Find exactly what you’re looking for in an unparalleled collection of antique, new and vintage watches on 1stDibs — we promise it will be worth your time.