Audemars Piguet

Even though the business was founded by Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet in LeBrassus, Switzerland in 1875, Audemars Piguet (AP) as a firm did not become official until 1889. Both founders were watch makers and complemented each other, Audemars managing production and Piguet doing sales. This gave them the key advantage of having strict quality control on all of their watches. The watch brand quickly became well known for creating high-end quality timepieces.

Even after the death of the founding fathers, AP continued to create complex timepieces that included the world’s smallest wristwatch in 1920. The company survived the Great Depression and bounced back to full swing in the 50s, producing a very successful line of dress watches that included chronographs and ultra thin models (such as the nine-ligne Calibre 2003). Many love AP watches because of their more subdued, yet elegant design.