Now, lemme tell ya somethin’ ’bout this fancy brand called Audemars Piguet, or as they say in them posh circles, AP. It all started way back in 1875, when two fellas, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, decided to put their heads together and make some watches. They weren’t just any regular folks; they came from a village called Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. Now, I ain’t no expert on fancy Swiss watches, but I can tell you this: they sure made somethin’ special.
So, these two gents, Jules and Edward, they were childhood friends, but they didn’t get back together ‘til 1874. Just think of it like two old buddies runnin’ into each other after many years, and decided to start a business together. They got to work real quick, and by 1881, their company officially became Audemars Piguet & Cie. The company’s name stuck ever since, and they’ve been makin’ watches ever since.
Now, I know what you’re thinkin’, “How much money they makin’ with these watches?” Well, as of recent, they’re pullin’ in around $1.6 billion every year. Can ya believe that? $1.6 billion! That’s a whole lotta money for some watches, don’t ya think?
And let me tell ya, they ain’t just makin’ a few watches here and there. These folks are makin’ about 50,000 watches every year. That’s a lotta tick-tocks if you ask me! Some folks say that number might even go up to 70,000 once they finish buildin’ a new place to make ’em. Talk about a fancy operation, huh?
Now, this ain’t no ordinary watch brand. Audemars Piguet is part of what they call the “Holy Trinity” of Swiss watchmakers. That means they’re in the same league as big names like Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. These are the watches you see on the wrists of rich folks, celebrities, and them high-falutin’ business folks. It’s all about luxury and fine craftsmanship.
Their most famous watch, and the one folks talk about the most, is called the Royal Oak. Now, this ain’t your regular run-of-the-mill watch; it’s got a fancy look with a steel case, and it’s one of the most recognizable watches in the world. But I reckon it’s too fancy for a simple gal like me!
Back in the day, in 1892 to be exact, Audemars Piguet did somethin’ that no one else had done before. They created the world’s first wristwatch with a minute-repeating movement. Sounds fancy, don’t it? Well, it is! They made it at the request of Louis Brandt, the founder of Omega. And to top it all off, Omega went and made the first minute-repeating wristwatch with that very same movement. Now that’s a piece of history!
But the Royal Oak isn’t the only thing they’ve got goin’ on. Over the years, Audemars Piguet has come out with other collections too, like the Royal Oak Offshore, Millenary, and Code 11.59. They keep comin’ up with new designs, but that Royal Oak is still the one that gets folks talkin’ the most. They say it’s timeless, and from what I can see, folks sure do love it.
So, there you have it. A little bit of history ‘bout Audemars Piguet. From them humble beginnings in a small village in Switzerland to becoming one of the most well-known luxury watchmakers in the world. Ain’t it somethin’ how they started just two friends makin’ watches, and now they’re rakin’ in billions and makin’ some of the fanciest timepieces around?
In the end, it’s all about that attention to detail and the passion for makin’ the best watches they can. And if you ever get your hands on one of them Audemars Piguet watches, well, you’ll know you got somethin’ special on your wrist. But me? I’ll stick to my old wristwatch that don’t cost nothin’ near that much!
Tags：[Audemars Piguet, Swiss Watches, Luxury Watches, Watch History, Royal Oak, Watchmaking, Watch Revenue, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Swiss Watchmakers]
