In the watch industry, the definition of “advanced watchmaking” is not clearly identifiable. It seems that this concept comes from people’s conventions, and no one has a clear explanation for advanced watchmaking. Watchmaking history, movement, complex functions… Which elements are really convincing for measuring premium watch brands? Audemars Piguet, the prestigious watchmaking brand, what makes it be in this position? Today, follow me to explore the story behind Audemars Piguet.
Long Time: A Long History of Watchmaking
Early Audemars Piguet Factory
Early Audemars Piguet craftsman is working on watchmaking
Audemars Piguet, born in the heart of the valley with the melody of the complex watch movement. In 1875, Audemars Piguet began the brand’s road to watchmaking. To this day, as the world’s only high-end watchmaking brand still managed by the founding family, Audemars Piguet’s watchmaking craft has passed through generations and has become the essence of Audemars Piguet’s watchmaking philosophy.
Modern Audemars Pioneer Watch Factory
Modern Audemars Piguet watchmakers are working on watchmaking
Audemars Piguet Founder & Founding Family First Generation: Jules Louis Audemars / Edward Auguste Piguet
Two watchmakers Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, also from the valley, founded Audemars Piguet. Since the brand was founded, timekeeping devices, chronograph and astronomical complex functions have always been the specialty of Audemars Piguet. Between 1882 and 1892, Audemars Piguet produced about 1,500 timepieces. Audemars Piguet’s historical books show that more than 80% of timepieces have at least one complex function, some of which have multiple complex functions.
Inheritance: Traceable Process Development
In 1892, Audemars Piguet developed the world’s first Minute Repeater timepiece
Most of Audemars Piguet’s historical models have complex functions.
(Some of the ultra-complex function timepieces developed by Audemars Piguet from 1899 to 1986)
The complex function of Audemars Piguet not only shows the beauty of Audemars Piguet’s craftsmanship, but also reflects the brand’s exquisite watchmaking skills. The complex function is Audemars Piguet’s core research and development concept. In 1892, Audemars Piguet created the world’s first Minute Repeater timepiece; In 1899, the first pocket watch named “Universelle” was born, which has many complicated functions including double-second chronograph, instantaneous jump second hand and straight-in second hand, big self-sounding, minute repeater time, alarm, perpetual calendar, etc; In 1955, Audemars Piguet established a leap year on the perpetual calendar for the first time; In 1986, the first self-winding tourbillon watch developed by Audemars Piguet was born…
Adhere to: Research and Development of Mechanical Movements and Complex Functions
Audemars Piguet Caliber 2885 automatic self-produced movement
The birth of each of Audemars Piguet’s ultra-complex timepieces means the breakthrough and development of Audemars Piguet’s watchmaking process. Looking back at Audemars Piguet’s watchmaking, the Caliber 2885 self-winding self-produced movement is the pinnacle of Audemars Piguet containing up to 648 parts, and it is completed by a watchmaker independently, which take more than 700 hours one the adjustment and assembly.
Audemars Piguet Caliber 2885 self-winding self-produced movement exploded view
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Complex with Caliber 2885 self-winding movement
In addition to this Caliber 2885 self-winding movement, the Caliber 2959 self-winding movement also reflects Audemars Piguet’s superb watchmaking craftsmanship. The new Royal Oak super-timer minute repeater watch launched in 2018 is equipped with this movement.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Series Super Minute Repeater Watch Equipped with Caliber 2959 Automatic Movement
