Audemars Piguet History The Audemars Piguet watch company was founded in the year 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet. However, it was not until the year 1881 that the name Audemars Piguet & Cie was acquired.

Since its beginning, the Audemars Piguet watch company has been family owned. Both Audemars and Piguet were watchmakers and as the company progressed, both men took on different roles within the company. Audemars primarily dealt with the technical side of the business and product development. Whereas, Piguet focused on sales and marketing and the day-to-day management of the business.

Both Audemars and Piguet passed away one year apart from each other in the years 1918 and 1919. After both men passed, their sons took over the business. They would continue their fathers’ legacy and vision by developing innovative and inventive timepieces. In the year 1925, Audemars Piguet developed the world's thinnest pocket watch caliber. Subsequently, in the year 1934, they developed a skeletonized pocket watch and in the year 1946, they created the world's thinnest wristwatch.

The innovation and history of the Audemars Piguet watch company is quite impressive. However, it was not until the year 1972 that the company finally received its due notoriety.

During the quartz crisis in the 1970s, Audemars Piguet's business was struggling, like many other high-end watch brands. As the upcoming annual Swiss Watch Show was approaching, now known as Baselworld, Audemars Piguet was desperate to make a splash and introduce something new and exciting. Consequently, the company met with one of the watch industry's foremost designers, Gerald Genta. Genta was commissioned by Audemars Piguet to design and create a luxury sports watch using stainless steel. As a result, the Royal Oak was born.

The design of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was not only pivotal for Audemars Piguet existent and longevity, but Genta’s Royal Oak design cues would be instrumental for other watch brands and models; such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus, the IWC Ingenieur, the Omega Constellation, and the Bulgari Chronograph.

Audemars Piguet Models: Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, Millenary, Platinum, Code 11.59, Jules Audemars, Edward Piguet, Promesse, Tradition, Maserati