Well, let me tell ya, Audemars Piguet ain’t just a fancy name, it’s been around for a long time. It’s a Swiss company, you know, making them expensive watches that folks fancy wearing on their wrists. Now, the whole thing got started way back in 1875. This was when two fellas, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, decided to put their heads together and start a watch company. They ain’t just any folks, mind ya, they were real craftsmen who loved their work. They set up shop in a place called the Vallée de Joux, which is tucked away in the hills of Switzerland.
Now, these two men didn’t just wake up one day and think, ‘Hey, let’s make some watches.’ Nah, they had been working on watches since they were young. They knew each other as kids, but they didn’t really get together ’til later on in life. In 1875, they took a big step, and Audemars Piguet was born. They didn’t waste any time either, in 1881, they officially named their business ‘Audemars Piguet & Cie.’ By then, they had a good reputation in the watch business, and their work was respected all over.
Now, here’s the thing about their watches:
- They started making pocket watches right away, and some even had calendars in ’em – that’s how far back they go, all the way to the very first year, 1875.
- Then, as time went on, they got into wristwatches and made one that was real special. In 1892, they created the first wristwatch with a minute-repeating movement. Now, that was a real game-changer!
- Fast forward to the 1980s and 90s, and they kept on innovating. They even came up with the Royal Oak calendar watches that had leap year indicators and weekly calendars in ‘em. Real fancy stuff.
In 1984, they came up with a big one. They introduced their very first Royal Oak watch with a perpetual calendar at the Basel Fair. It was a big deal back then, and folks couldn’t stop talkin’ about it. Model 5554, they called it. And let me tell ya, that watch got its own little spot in history.
But, that’s not all. They ain’t just about makin’ watches; they’re also about doing things the right way. They don’t want to flood the market with too many watches. In fact, they only make about 40,000 watches a year. Now, that’s not a lot, is it? That’s ’cause they want every watch to be special. You know, good quality, not mass-produced junk.
Now, don’t be thinkin’ that they stopped there. Audemars Piguet kept on making watches that pushed the boundaries of what people thought was possible. They got the Royal Oak collection, which folks still go crazy for today. They also got other collections like the Millenary, the Jules Audemars, and something called the Code 11.59, which is another fancy one. All of these are known for their high-end craftsmanship and stylish designs. But ya know, it all goes back to the roots in 1875. If it weren’t for them two fellas, we wouldn’t have all these fancy watches today.
So, in short, Audemars Piguet:
- Started in 1875 by two men, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet.
- Became a real name in the luxury watch world by 1881.
- Made history with their wristwatches, including the first wristwatch with a minute-repeating movement in 1892.
- Introduced the Royal Oak with a perpetual calendar in 1984, changing the game forever.
- Only produces about 40,000 watches a year to keep the quality high.
So there ya have it! A long history of makin’ watches, and they ain’t done yet. If you’re into fancy timepieces, you know Audemars Piguet got some of the best. And they ain’t just about the looks either; they make sure their watches are built to last, and every piece tells a story of craftsmanship that goes back over 140 years.
Tags：[Audemars Piguet, luxury watches, Swiss watches, Royal Oak, perpetual calendar, watchmaking history, Vallée de Joux, watch innovations, luxury timepieces]
