Well, let me tell ya about Audemars Piguet, a name that makes folks think of fancy watches. It all started way back in 1881, in a little village called Le Brassus, over in Switzerland. There was a couple of clever folks, Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet, who decided to get together and make watches, real fine ones. Jules was already makin’ some pretty complicated watch movements back in 1875, and this was before they even started their official company! A lot of folks say that the two of ’em were just lucky to meet up at the right time. Anyway, that’s how the whole thing kicked off, with them both putting their heads together to create watches that were so good, not just anyone could make ’em.
Now, the thing with Audemars Piguet is they ain’t about churning out watches by the dozen. Oh no, they got standards. They keep their yearly production to only 40,000 pieces. That might sound like a lot, but compared to some other companies, it’s not much at all. And that’s on purpose, mind you. They only want to make the best of the best, so they keep the numbers low to make sure each watch is perfect. Not like those companies that just make hundreds of thousands of watches every year. Nope, not Audemars Piguet. They want quality, not quantity.
Back in the day, after they founded their company in 1881, they started gaining a reputation real quick for making watches that were just a step above what everyone else was doing. Folks loved the craftsmanship, and that’s what set them apart. Over time, they kept getting better and better, and now they’re one of the “Big Four” Swiss watchmakers, right alongside Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille. Can you believe it? They’re still around today, makin’ watches that are as fancy as ever, and worth a small fortune.
Speaking of fancy, if you ever look at an Audemars Piguet watch, you’ll notice something special about the serial numbers. Starting in 1972, they put letters in front of the numbers. This lets people know when the watch was made, which is pretty neat if you’re into that sorta thing. The letter and number combo tells the whole story of when and where it was made, and you can even find it on the warranty card or certificate.
Now, in 2023, Audemars Piguet made waves again. They grew their revenue by 2%, bringing in about 2.35 billion Swiss Francs – that’s over 2.7 billion dollars. And that’s just another reason why their watches are so highly coveted. Folks want something rare and special, and Audemars Piguet’s limited production makes sure their watches stay that way. They don’t flood the market like other brands might. They want every watch to hold its value, and that’s why folks are always excited to get their hands on one.
So, if you’re lookin’ for a watch that’s not only good lookin’ but also packed with history, you can’t go wrong with an Audemars Piguet. Just know that it’s gonna cost ya. But that’s the price you pay for havin’ something so rare and so well-made, ain’t it?
Tags:[Audemars Piguet, Swiss Watches, Watchmaking History, Luxury Watches, Limited Production, Jules Audemars, Edward Piguet, Watch Serial Numbers, Swiss Craftsmanship]