Audemars Piguet

They began their careers as repairers in the last quarter of the 19th century. Watch specialists who held this historically apprenticed profession during their time were the last to hold the finished watch in their hands before it left the manufactory. They were responsible for the final touches, the final inspection. 1875 was their year: Jules-Louis Audemars and his friend Edward-Auguste Piguet seized the favor of the Gründerzeit era and developed their first own watches. From 1881 onwards, their joint venture Audemars Piguet & Cie. was already producing complicated pocket watches with perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, or chronograph functions, and in 1889 won a medal at the Paris World Exhibition with "La Grande Complication." Only 100 examples of this treasure, already considered a luxury watch at the time, were sold worldwide. In 1891, the world's smallest movement, and in 1892 the first wristwatch with a minute repeater, astonished the public and experts alike.

From the 1920s onwards, the second generation took the helm and concentrated on the production of high-quality wristwatches, fashionable watches dazzling with precious metals and gemstones. The Swiss company's creations also graced the elegant displays of the luxury jewelers Tiffany (New York) and Van Cleff & Arpels (Paris). Today's Jules Audemars Edition draws on elements of this era, captivatingly combining feminine beauty with masculine expressiveness. Far more than luxury watches, these models are pieces of jewelry expressed in a stunning harmony of material, color, and form. From the very beginning, they demonstrated the courage to be avant-garde and the creativity for extravagance. The Millenary Collection incorporates classicist aesthetic elements. The form is unique, influenced by the architecture of the Roman Colosseum, and the elaborately crafted dials are striking, with Arabic numerals and Roman numerals on two asynchronous discs indicating the hours and minutes. In the “Lady Precieuse” version, countless diamonds sparkle on the bezel and bracelet.

With its long-standing network, HORANDO is able to track down even rarer Audemars Piguet watches and offer them for purchase both online and in its own showroom. This naturally also applies to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak luxury watch. Luxury watch enthusiasts often go to any lengths to experience the merits of this wonderful luxury timepiece firsthand in the brick-and-mortar store in Bamberg.

We don't know why the director of Audemars Piguet was in such a hurry when he contacted the renowned Geneva watch designer Gérald Genta on the afternoon of a September day in 1970 to place an exceptionally short-notice order. The first draft of a waterproof steel sports watch was reportedly ready by the next morning. The prototype of the Royal Oak astonished with its avant-garde square shape, its porthole appearance, and the visible, robust screws connecting the bezel to the case. The similarity to historical diving helmets was immediately striking. With its launch in 1972, the model with the ultra-thin case left its mark on the modern watch manufacturer.

In 2012, Audemars Piguet reissued this style icon of modern watchmaking in eight models. Every detail references the early Royal Oak, which took its name from special battleships of the British Royal Navy. The battleship became the flagship. Like the historic Royal Oak, the modern version is identifiable by its "Petite Tapisserie" decoration. It is crafted in Audemars Piguet's own workshops using traditional machinery and creates its unique effect through the superimposition of two different decorations and the special blue tint on the dial and date disc. Forty years ago, a watch diameter of 39 mm was considered oversized. Today, it perfectly reflects contemporary tastes. Its profile in detail: stainless steel case middle, bezel, bracelet, and folding clasp. Eight hexagon screws in white gold. The same movement as in 1972, Caliber 2121 with mechanical winding. 40-hour power reserve. A total of 247 components. Rotor made of 22 carat gold.

The Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph, limited to 50 pieces, features innovative materials such as forged carbon, ceramic (for the bezel), titanium-ceramic combination (for the pushers), and rubber straps. A total of 335 individual parts compose a masterful example of high watchmaking heritage. The Royal Oak Offshore's movement can be observed at work through the anti-reflective sapphire crystal case back.

It's no surprise that a sports watch that shines with functionality as well as beauty is also sought after by the greats of competitive sports. The company itself demonstrates its deep connection to the sport through its commitment to the successful Swiss sailing team Alinghi. Like other luxury watches of equal stature, Audemars Piguet's limited-edition models have become particularly sought-after collector's items and favorites among enthusiasts with a celebrity factor. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Formula One star Pablo Montoya, and racing legend Michael Schumacher wear Audemars Piguet. In 2012, the watch empire dedicated a limited edition of three models in titanium, red gold, and platinum to Michael Schumacher: Seven stars to the right of the 12 o'clock display honor his seven world championship titles. You don't have to be a sports celebrity to associate yourself with an Audemars Piguet. But anyone who wears this aesthetically and technically stunning watch brand on their wrist can feel privileged. HORANDO attaches great importance to ensuring that high-performance luxury watches such as Audemars Piguet models, whose collector's items are highly sought after, find their admirers at fair prices when purchasing watches online or in brick-and-mortar stores.