Now, you might be curious ’bout where this fancy Audemars Piguet watches come from and when they got started. Well, lemme tell ya, it’s a story that goes way back to 1875. Yep, way back! That’s when them two fellas, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, decided to make them watches. They did it all in a place called Vallée de Joux, in Switzerland, where folks know how to make fine watches and keep the craft alive for generations. Now, ya know, it wasn’t all just a one-man job. They set up a proper workshop, and soon enough, their watches were the talk of the town. In 1881, they got official and started callin’ their company Audemars Piguet & Cie. The name stuck, and it’s still known everywhere today.
Now, I bet you wonderin’, why them watches are so special, right? Well, lemme tell ya, it ain’t just about lookin’ pretty. These folks, Audemars Piguet, have always been about quality, craftsmanship, and makin’ sure their watches don’t just tell time but tell a story. They don’t make a ton of watches every year like some of them other brands. Nah, they keep it to around 40,000 pieces a year. They want to make sure each one’s perfect, like a piece of art. And get this, every single one is made by hand. Can you believe it? That’s a lot of work for them folks in Switzerland.
Speaking of which, you might be wonderin’ how to tell when one of them watches was made. Well, since 1972, Audemars Piguet started using a special serial number system. It’s got a letter, followed by some numbers, and that helps folks figure out when exactly a watch was made. The number’s important, you see, ‘cause each one’s unique. You can even find that number on the warranty card, so if you ever need to check when your watch was made, there it is, stamped right on it.
Now, Audemars Piguet don’t just make watches anywhere. Nah, they stick to what they know best—Switzerland. Most of their watches are made at three places over there, and they ain’t just churning out watches like a factory. No sir! They take their time, makin’ sure each one is as good as the next. In fact, back in the day, between 1892 and 1975, the folks at Audemars Piguet produced watches in very small numbers, makin’ ‘em rare and even more special. They even used them fancy serial numbers to help folks tell when a watch was made back then.
Now, if ya ever get your hands on one of them older Audemars Piguet watches, you’re holdin’ somethin’ mighty special. Back in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, they didn’t make many chronographs. Just a few hundred in total. And folks still look for them today, ‘cause they’re real treasures. So, if ya ever see one of them, you can bet it’s a collector’s item. It’s like holdin’ a piece of history right there in your hand.
Today, Audemars Piguet’s still goin’ strong, standin’ proud among what they call the “Holy Trinity” of watchmaking—alongside Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. Them three names, they sure do stand for the best of the best. Ain’t no doubt ‘bout that. And it all started with them two fellas in that little Swiss town, buildin’ watches that would become legends.
Now, it ain’t just about the watches either. You got to look at the history of the company. The first place they started out in was built all the way back in 1868, right there in Le Brassus, their hometown. That old building is still around today, standin’ tall as a reminder of how it all began. It’s where Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet started their dream, and look at ’em now, all these years later. Their watches are known worldwide, and the legacy’s still goin’.
So, the next time you hear someone talkin’ about Audemars Piguet, remember, it ain’t just about a fancy watch. It’s about history, quality, and folks who care ‘bout what they do. They’ve been at it for a long time, and they ain’t slowin’ down anytime soon.
Tags：[Audemars Piguet, Swiss watches, luxury watches, history of Audemars Piguet, watchmaking, Audemars Piguet production, Vallée de Joux, Le Brassus, craftsmanship, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, watch collectors]
