Well, let me tell you somethin’ about this fancy watch brand called Audemars Piguet. You might’ve heard of it, or maybe you haven’t, but it’s one of them top-notch Swiss watchmakers. They’ve been around for quite a while, started back in 1875, that’s almost a hundred and fifty years ago! Ain’t that somethin’? Audemars Piguet is all about fancy timepieces and makin’ them real fine.
So, this whole thing started with two young fellas – Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet. They were childhood friends, had a real good bond and a love for clocks. They figured, why not start a watch company? And that’s what they did, back in the day, in Switzerland where all the best watches come from. From then on, they just kept on growin’ and innovatin’.
The company went on to make all sorts of special watches, like real small ones and ones with fancy gadgets inside. In 1891, they made this tiny repeater movement that was only 18mm in diameter – that’s real small, mind you! It was the smallest in the world at the time. And then, just a couple years after that, they kept on showin’ off what they could do.
But it wasn’t just about makin’ small watches, oh no. They kept pushin’ the envelope, always inventin’ new things. Over the years, Audemars Piguet got known for their ultra-thin movements, somethin’ not a lot of folks could do. They weren’t just makin’ watches, they were makin’ little machines, full of precision and style.
Fast forward to today, and Audemars Piguet is a big name in the watch world. They call it the “Holy Trinity” of watchmaking, alongside other big names like Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. You know, the best of the best. This brand is all about exclusivity and craftsmanship, and they keep on breakin’ new ground.
In the 2000s, the company took a big step forward. In 2012, a fella named François-Henry Bennahmias took over the company. He had big ideas, even said he wanted Audemars Piguet to be like the Apple of watches, real innovative and unique. That’s a big claim! And I reckon he did his part, ‘cause the company kept makin’ waves in the watchin’ world.
Now, you might think, after all these years, maybe they’d get too comfortable. But no, Audemars Piguet ain’t slowin’ down! They’re still owned by the founding family, with Jasmine Audemars at the head of the board of directors. In 2022, after thirty years in charge, Jasmine decided to step down, but she kept holdin’ onto the presidency of their foundation. The company’s in good hands, that’s for sure.
Through all the years, one thing’s stayed the same: Audemars Piguet is all about keepin’ their founders’ values alive. They believe in respect, integrity, exclusivity, and passion. Ain’t that somethin’ special? They’ve shown they can adapt, change, and grow, all while stayin’ true to what they started with.
So, if you’re ever lucky enough to get your hands on one of these watches, you’re holdin’ a piece of history. Not just some fancy gadget, but a real symbol of time, craftsmanship, and a company that’s been at it for over a century. That’s somethin’ you can be proud of. Audemars Piguet, they sure know how to make time tick just right.
Tags:[Audemars Piguet, Swiss watches, watchmaking, history of Audemars Piguet, luxury watches, Audemars Piguet innovations, watch industry]