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.
Dm 1.54 in L 6.5 in
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra Thin Blue Dial Unworn
By Audemars Piguet
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An unworn NOS 39mm stainless steel Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin by Audemars Piguet 15202ST.OO.0944ST.02. This model is an earlier version of the 15202ST'...
Stainless Steel
2000s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 14790ST Steel Blue Tapisserie Dial Auto 36mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
The Perfect Mid-Size Expression The Royal Oak 14790ST is considered by many collectors to be the purest modern expression of Gérald Genta's original vision. At 36mm, it carries the ...
Steel, Stainless Steel
2000s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 14790ST Steel Blue Tapisserie Dial Auto 36mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
The Royal Oak Yves Klein Dial This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak features a vibrant blue dial inspired by the famous deep monochrome works of artist Yves Klein. This particular colorway...
Steel, Stainless Steel
2000s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 14790ST Steel Blue Tapisserie Dial Auto 36mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
The Royal Oak Yves Klein Dial This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak features a vibrant blue dial inspired by the famous deep monochrome works of artist Yves Klein. This particular colorway...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 25860IS Stainless Steel IKB Blue Dial Auto 39mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
A Foundational Design In A Rare Color The Royal Oak is the watch that created the luxury sports category. Its chronograph form, often nicknamed the "Kasparov," is considered by many...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 1st Edition "A series" 39mm Watch 5402ST Circa 1972
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
Designed in one night by Gérald Genta, the first Royal Oak model was presented in 1972 at the Basel Fair, after two years of development. This extraor...
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1980s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 56303ST Steel Black Dial Quartz 33mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
The Original Icon, Distilled The Royal Oak is the watch that created the luxury sports category. This reference 56303ST from the 1980s captures the essence of Gérald Genta's origina...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Lady 26mm Stainless Steel Quartz Grey Tapisserie Dial
By Audemars Piguet
Located in Zurich, CH
A Compact Legend of Avant-Garde Luxury. This beautiful neo-vintage Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Lady perfectly captures Gérald Genta's legendary 1972 industrial design language, scaled...
Stainless Steel
Audemars Piguet 37mm Royal Oak Blue & Steel 15451ST.ZZ.1256ST.03 Complete
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
Truly NEW Audemars Piguet 37mm Royal Oak Blue & Steel 15451ST.ZZ.1256ST.03 Complete with original box and original papers. Silver-tone stainless steel case with a silver-tone stainless steel bracelet. 8 screws fixed silver-tone diamond set bezel. Blue with grande tapisserie pattern dial with silver-tone hands and index hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Dial Type: Analog. Luminescent hands and markers. Date display at the 3 o'clock position. Audemars Piguet Calibre 3120 Automatic movement, containing 40 Jewels, composed of 280 parts, bitting at 21600 vph, and has a power reserve of approximately 60 hours. Scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Screw down crown. Transparent case back. Octagon case shape, case size: 37 mm, case thickness: 9.8 mm. Ap folding clasp. Water resistant at 50 meters / 165 feet. Functions: date, hour, minute, second. Luxury watch style. Watch label: Swiss Made. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Automatic...
Steel
Vintage 1980s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 56143ST Steel Tropical Dial Quartz 33mm
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
Steel Body, Gold Soul The Royal Oak is the watch that created the luxury sports category, but its story is one of constant evolution. This 33mm reference from the 1980s captures the...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Quartz Watch 67630BA.GG.1312BA.01
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
Unworn. Comes with original box and papers. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Ref. 67630BA.GG.1312BA.01 Specifications Brand: Audemars Piguet Model: Royal Oak Mini Frost...
Gold
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26401RO.OO.A002CA.02 Rose Gold Watch B&P
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
Pre-owned in excellent condition. Comes with original box and paper. Tiny damage on the band loop, which is shown in the image. Free polish upon request.
Rose Gold
Audemars Piguet Jules 15180OR.OO.A002CR.01 18K Rose Gold Black Dial Watch
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
Excellent pre-owned condition. The watch is fully serviced and tested for water resistance, movement calibration, and time accuracy. It shows light signs of wear. No original box and...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Hublot Big Bang Chronograph 38mm Steel Blue Dial Watch 361.SX.7170.LR.1204
By Hublot
Located in New York, NY
Original box and papers are included. Unworn. Covered by a 5-year warranty. * Free Shipping within the USA * Five-year warranty coverage * 14-day return policy with a full refund. ...
Steel
Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu II Ceramic Blue Dial Watch 415.EX.7179.VR.MXM19
By Hublot
Located in New York, NY
Pre-owned. Limited edition of 200 pieces. Tiny scratch on the clasp. Brand: Hublot Type: Wristwatch Department: Men Model Number: 415.EX.7179.VR.MXM19 Country/Region of Manufac...
Rolex Datejust 41 Steel Blue Dial Oyster Band Automatic Mens Watch 126300
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
Pre-owned Like New. Original Box and Papers are Included. Covered by 1-year Chronostore Warranty. Details: Brand Rolex Type Wristwatch Department Men Model Number 126300 Country/Reg...
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.
