Everything began in 1875 for Audemars Piguet in the core of the Vallée de Joux, a place that pulses to the rhythm of intricate watch movements. The Vallée de Joux is the cradle of Audemars Piguet and an epicenter of high-end Swiss watchmaking, is a breathtaking location tucked in the Jura Mountains north of Geneva. The natural resources of the region, notably the forests, rocks, water, and ice from which iron ore could be collected, allowed the watch industry to flourish and develop.
Luxury watches by Audemars Piguet blend legendary designs with finely hand-finished movements. As a result, prices are well into the six digits. Here are some fantastic Audemars Piguet models that are currently available for novice collectors and those contemplating their first Audemars Piguet acquisition.
1. Code 11.59 Minute Repeater Supersonnerie
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59, introduced in 2019, marks a new chapter in the company’s history. The modern version of a classic round watch features a multidimensional and curved construction with more intricacies than the eye can see. The Minute Repeater Supersonnerie 26395BC.OO.D321CR.01 comes in 18-carat white gold case with glare-proof sapphire crystal, lacquered black inner bezel, smoked blue enamel dial, enamel transferred logo, and 18-carat white gold applied hour-markers and hands.
It advantages from the outstanding acoustic performance of the patented Minute Repeater Supersonnerie concept, which was introduced in 2016. The Manufacture has designed a modern double-curved sapphire crystal with a tight, arched contour that plays with depth, viewpoint, and light for a one-of-a-kind optical sensation. It is vertically curved from 6 to 12 o’clock even if its inside surface is dome-shaped. An 18-carat white gold folding clasp comes in a hand-stitched “large square scale” blue alligator strap.
2. Royal Oak Self-Winding
With its “Tapisserie’’ dial, steel case, octagonal bezel, and fitted bracelet, the Royal Oak defied convention in 1972 and established itself as a contemporary masterpiece. This Royal Oak Self-Winding 15451ST.ZZ.1256ST.02 comes in diamonds and steel with a grey ruthenium-toned dial with a “Grande Tapisserie’’ pattern, Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, and white gold applied hour-markers. Within the gleaming stainless steel case with diamond-set bezel, stainless steel bracelet with AP folding clasp, and glare-proof sapphire crystal and caseback, an exceptional self-winding movement exists.
3. Code 11.59 Self-Winding Flying Tourbillon
The 18-carat pink gold flying tourbillon ref 26396OR.OO.D002CR.01 features a black enamel dial with lacquered black inner bezel, enamel transferred logo, and 18-carat pink gold applied hour-markers and hands, whose organic composition and hand-made construction make it one-of-a-kind. It comes in a 41 mm 18-carat pink gold case with glare-proof sapphire crystal and caseback, hand-stitched “large square scale” black alligator strap with 18-carat pink gold folding clasp, and 30-meter water resistance.
4. Royal Oak Offshore Diver
This new style has a captivating blend and beautiful as ever, with no compromises in horological accuracy and performance. The limited-edition Royal Oak Offshore Diver 15711OI.OO.A006CA.01 comes in an 18-carat pink gold case with grey ceramic screw-locked crowns, glare-proof sapphire crystal, and caseback, titanium bezel and links, grey rubber strap with 18-carat pink gold pin buckle, and grey dial with “Méga Tapisserie’’ pattern, grey inner bezel, Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, and pink gold applied hour-markers. This version also features a 60-hour power reserve and 300-meter water resistance.
5. Royal Oak Offshore Self-Winding Chronograph
The 44 mm black ceramic case of Royal Oak Offshore Self-Winding Chronograph 26405CE.OO.A056CA.01 is enhanced by a green ceramic bezel, glare-proof sapphire crystal and caseback, titanium push-piece guards, push-pieces and screw-locked crown, a smoked green dial with “Mega Tapisserie” pattern with pink gold Arabic numerals and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, black inner bezel, rhodium-toned counters, and a green rubber strap with “textile” decoration and titanium pin buckle.
6. [Re]master01 Self-Winding Chronograph
[Re]master01, like a remastered recording from the 1940s, reimagines one of Audemars Piguet’s unique chronograph watches with a dial design that improves legibility and the most recent chronograph technology. The [Re]master01 Self-Winding Chronograph 26595SR.OO.A032VE.01 features a stainless steel case and lugs, crown and push-pieces, 18-carat pink gold bezel, glare-proof sapphire crystal and caseback, a hand-stitched light brown calfskin strap with a stainless steel pin buckle, and a yellow gold-toned dial with pink-gold hands, blue Chrono seconds hand, and blue tachymetric scale.
7. Millenary Frosted Gold Philosophique
The Millenary series has been a canvas for inventiveness since its debut in 1995, with eccentric models blending modern design and technical expertise. The Millenary Frosted Gold Philosophique 77266BC.GG.A326CR.01 is enhanced by a hammered and satin-finished 18-carat white gold case, with a crown set with a blue sapphire cabochon and a glare-proof sapphire crystal and caseback. Its blue “Hammered like‘’ dial comes with a white gold case hand-finished with frosted gold and adorned by a satin-finished “large square scale” blue alligator strap with 18-carat white gold pin buckle. Equipped with a self-winding manufacture caliber 3140, this timepiece offers a 50-hour power reserve and 20-meter water resistance.
8. Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon
The Royal Oak Concept, which has provided a platform for research at Audemars Piguet since 2002, combines ultramodern technological accuracy with cutting-edge micromechanical. The limited edition’s futuristic design recalls the cutting-edge suit of Marvel’s Black Panther. Its sandblasted titanium case topped off with black ceramics, black ceramic bezel and crown, and glare-proof sapphire crystal of this Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther’’ Flying Tourbillon 26620IO.OO.D077CA.01 opens onto a hand-painted 3D tribute of the Super Hero. It also offers a hand-painted white gold 3D Black Panther character dial with white gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating and purple inner bezel, and a purple rubber strap with titanium AP folding clasp, which can also be offered in black rubber strap. Equipped with a Calibre 2965, this timepiece features a 72-hour power reserve and 50-meter water resistance.
9. Royal Oak Concept Self-Winding Tourbillon Chronograph Open worked
Clad in sandblasted and satin-brushed titanium, this limited edition of 25 pieces Royal Oak Concept Self-Winding Tourbillon Chronograph Open worked 26612TI.OO.D002CA.01 presents a high-tech Open worked dial in black and pink gold tones and a black rubber strap with sandblasted titanium AP folding clasp.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the raw aspect of this rocky location, with its bright panoramas of the brilliant night sky, has acted as a catalyst for artisans until this day. Watch mechanisms are, in fact, visualizations of the flow of time as mandated by astronomy, and nature has always been an inspiration for the advent of time-measuring instruments.
