Well, let me tell ya, it ain’t too complicated when it comes to how Audemars Piguet got started. Now, this company, it ain’t some fly-by-night outfit, no sir. It all began back in 1875, over there in Switzerland, in a place called Le Brassus, in the Vallée de Joux. Back then, two young fellas named Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet decided to join forces and start making watches together. Jules was 24, and Piguet was just a couple years younger, 22. They weren’t just playin’ around with gears and springs – no, sir. They were serious about it.
Now, they didn’t start in some big fancy factory, oh no. They set up shop right on the Audemars family farm. Imagine that! Out there in the countryside, no big city distractions, just them, some tools, and a whole lot of patience. Their workshop wasn’t much more than a barn, but boy, did it turn out to be something special. Folks would come from all around just to see what they were making. By the time 1881 rolled around, they’d officially founded their company, calling it Audemars Piguet & Cie.
But here’s the thing – it wasn’t just about making fancy watches for the rich folks. No, these two weren’t just about fancy looks. They wanted to make something that worked, something that lasted. So, Jules, he focused on creating movements that were as precise as a clock and complicated in ways nobody had ever seen before. The man was a genius, I swear! And Piguet, well, he worked on making the company grow, making sure they got their name out there. They worked with the likes of Tiffany Co. and all sorts of fancy companies to get their name in front of the best in the business.
Now, it didn’t take long before Audemars Piguet started making waves. By 1889, they’d already done something nobody else had done before. They were knocking out world-firsts left and right. By the early 1900s, they were working with some of the biggest names in jewelry and watches. Big names like Bulgari, Cartier, and Tiffany Co. In fact, they were making watches for all the luxury big shots, and the dials of these watches would bear their name. But it wasn’t just about the fancy names; no, it was about the quality.
But here’s the thing that gets me: back then, folks didn’t really see it for what it was. It was just a couple of country boys making watches. But by the time the 1910s came around, Audemars and Piguet had both passed on, leaving the company to their sons. Paul Louis Audemars and Paul Edward Piguet carried the torch. And they didn’t let it burn out, no sir. They kept the family tradition alive, and the company grew.
As time went on, Audemars Piguet kept getting bigger and bigger. By the mid-20th century, they were one of the best-known names in luxury watches. But they didn’t just want to be another fancy brand. Oh no, they kept their hands in the craft. They only made a certain number of watches each year. They didn’t want to flood the market with ’em. Only about 40,000 watches a year. That’s all. They made sure each one was perfect, ‘cause if you’re gonna sell something that expensive, it better be good, right?
And you know what? They were smart, too. They didn’t just sell their watches to anyone. They didn’t flood the market. They made sure demand stayed high, which made their watches even more sought after. That’s part of why they’re so expensive. It ain’t just the materials or the labor that makes ’em costly. It’s the fact that they’re rare, and you can’t just walk into any old store and get one. Makes you feel special, don’t it?
Now, as for China, well, Audemars Piguet’s history over there is a bit more recent. It wasn’t till the early 2000s that the brand really started making a name for itself in China. But once it got there, it didn’t take long for the rich folks in China to start gobbling ’em up. Today, Audemars Piguet has a solid presence in China, and its watches are as coveted as ever. They’ve got boutiques in places like Beijing and Shanghai, where folks with deep pockets can get their hands on one of them fine timepieces. And let me tell ya, they ain’t cheap.
But even with all this growth and luxury, Audemars Piguet didn’t lose sight of what really matters: making watches that are just flat-out good. They didn’t forget their roots. They didn’t forget what it took to get where they are. They still do things the old-fashioned way, with careful hands and a whole lotta heart. And that’s what makes them stand out, even today. The craftsmanship, the history, and the dedication to quality. That’s why they’re still around, and why folks are still paying top dollar for a piece of that history.
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