Audemars Piguet Watches

Audemars Piguet is one of the most respected names in high-end Swiss watchmaking, known for bold design, complicated movements, hand-finished details, and iconic luxury sport watches. It's a favorite among serious collectors and buyers looking for something beyond the traditional luxury watch.

From the legendary Royal Oak to the bolder Royal Oak Offshore, AP watches are defined by distinctive cases, integrated bracelets, octagonal bezels, visible screws, textured dials, and unmistakable wrist presence.

Why Audemars Piguet Is So Popular

Audemars Piguet pairs traditional Swiss watchmaking with bold, modern design — the result feels luxurious, technical, and instantly recognizable. Collectors are drawn to the brand's distinctive Royal Oak octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet construction, its range of materials (stainless steel, rose gold, yellow gold, white gold, titanium, ceramic, and platinum), and its depth of complications, from skeletonized and chronograph models to perpetual calendars and tourbillons. For buyers who want a watch that feels collectible and expressive — something that reads differently from a Rolex or Patek Philippe — AP is a strong choice.

History

Audemars Piguet was founded in Le Brassus, Switzerland, in the Vallée de Joux — one of the most important regions in Swiss watchmaking — and built its reputation on complicated watchmaking, precision, and craftsmanship.

In 1972, AP introduced the Royal Oak, designed by Gérald Genta. At the time, a luxury stainless steel sport watch with an integrated bracelet and exposed screws was a radical idea; today it's one of the most important watches in modern horology. In 1993, AP followed with the Royal Oak Offshore — larger, thicker, and more aggressive — which brought a new level of sport design to the brand and won over athletes and collectors looking for stronger wrist presence.

Today, Audemars Piguet's lineup spans the Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, Royal Oak Concept, Code 11.59, and its complicated high-watchmaking models.

Popular Collections

Royal Oak. The brand's most famous collection, defined by its octagonal bezel, exposed screws, integrated bracelet, and "Tapisserie" dial. Popular styles include the Selfwinding, Chronograph, Jumbo Extra-Thin, Openworked, Perpetual Calendar, and Tourbillon, along with diamond-set and full gold configurations. It's the pick for buyers who want historic design, strong collector demand, and serious luxury presence.

Royal Oak Offshore. The bolder, sportier version of the Royal Oak, launched in 1993 and known for larger cases, chronograph layouts, rubber straps, and strong colors. Look for the Offshore Chronograph, Offshore Diver, and Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph in rose gold, stainless steel, ceramic, or titanium — a strong fit for buyers who want size, power, and personality.

Royal Oak Concept. AP's futuristic high-watchmaking line, introduced in 2002 for the Royal Oak's 30th anniversary. Expect tourbillon, flying tourbillon, GMT, and chronograph models with openworked, avant-garde cases in ceramic, titanium, and precious metals — built for collectors chasing something technical and rare.

Code 11.59. A more modern, dress-oriented side of AP, with round cases, contemporary architecture, and refined dials across Selfwinding, chronograph, perpetual calendar, flying tourbillon, and openworked models. A good fit for buyers who want an AP with a dressier, less common look.

Popular Reference Numbers

Reference numbers matter when shopping for an Audemars Piguet — they pin down the model, case size, material, dial, movement, and generation.

Royal Oak

Royal Oak Offshore

Code 11.59

Royal Oak Concept

Royal Oak Models in Depth

The Royal Oak is the heart of Audemars Piguet — instantly recognizable by its octagonal bezel, eight hexagonal screws, integrated bracelet, slim case profile, and patterned dial.

• Royal Oak Selfwinding — the most popular AP model, pairing the classic Royal Oak look with automatic time and date. Available in 34mm, 37mm, 39mm, and 41mm depending on reference, in blue, black, silver, gray, and green dials, plus rose gold, two-tone, and diamond-set configurations.
• Royal Oak Chronograph — adds sport timing to the Royal Oak design, in stainless steel, rose gold, yellow gold, ceramic, and diamond-set configurations.
• Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin — one of the most collectible AP models, closely tied to the original 1972 design and prized for its slim profile and heritage appeal. References 15202ST and 16202ST are especially sought after.
• Royal Oak Openworked — showcases AP's movement finishing through a skeletonized dial; prized for technical beauty and rarity.
• Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar — pairs the sport-luxury Royal Oak case with one of watchmaking's most prestigious complications, especially collectible in ceramic and rose gold.

Royal Oak Offshore Models in Depth

Bolder, sportier, and larger than the standard Royal Oak — a strong pick for buyers who want real wrist presence.

• Offshore Chronograph — one of AP's most recognizable sport watches, typically in 42mm, 43mm, or 44mm cases with rubber straps, ceramic bezels, and colorful accents.
• Offshore Diver — AP's sporty dive-style watch, with strong water resistance, a rotating inner bezel, and rubber strap options for a casual luxury feel.

Materials, Dials, and Sizing

Materials: stainless steel, 18K rose/yellow/white gold, platinum, titanium, black/white/blue ceramic, carbon, rubber straps, diamond-set bezels, and sapphire casebacks. Stainless steel Royal Oaks are the most in-demand for their history and collector appeal; rose gold adds warmth, ceramic feels modern and technical, and titanium keeps things light and sporty.

Dials: the Royal Oak is especially known for its textured "Tapisserie" pattern — Grande, Petite, and Méga variations — alongside blue, black, silver, gray, green, white, skeletonized, openworked, diamond-set, smoked, and gradient dials. Blue-dial Royal Oaks are among the most collectible AP watches; openworked and skeletonized dials are prized for showing off the movement.

Sizing: common AP sizes run 33mm, 34mm, 37mm, 39mm, 41mm, 42mm, 43mm, and 44mm. Royal Oak models typically run smaller (33–41mm), while Royal Oak Offshore models run larger (42–44mm). The right size comes down to wrist size, style, and whether you want the refined Royal Oak fit or the bolder Offshore look.

Price Guide

Audemars Piguet pricing depends on collection, reference, material, size, dial, condition, box, papers, and market demand. Approximate pre-owned ranges:

Prices move with market conditions — browse current inventory or contact our team for the most accurate pricing.

Is Audemars Piguet a Good Investment?

Royal Oak models are known for strong collector demand, though no watch purchase is guaranteed to appreciate. Value tends to hinge on reference number, collection, case size, material, dial color, condition, box and papers, bracelet condition, limited or discontinued status, movement type, and overall market demand. Stainless steel Royal Oaks, blue-dial configurations, Jumbo Extra-Thin references, openworked models, perpetual calendars, and rare limited editions typically draw the strongest collector interest.

Is Audemars Piguet a Good First Luxury Watch?

It can be, for buyers who want something bold, prestigious, and collectible — though AP watches generally run more expensive and less understated than entry-level luxury pieces. AP suits buyers looking for a luxury sport watch with a strong design identity, distinct from Rolex, backed by high-end Swiss craftsmanship and serious wrist presence. For many, the Royal Oak is a grail watch; for others, the sportier, more casual Royal Oak Offshore is the better starting point.

Why Buy Pre-Owned

Buying pre-owned opens up discontinued references, hard-to-find dials, older case sizes, full sets, and collectible configurations that can be difficult to find new — stainless steel Royal Oaks, rose gold Royal Oak Chronographs, Offshore Divers, Offshore Chronographs, openworked models, perpetual calendars, and limited editions among them. Every pre-owned Audemars Piguet at ECI Jewelers is inspected for authenticity, condition, and quality before it's offered for sale.

Shop Audemars Piguet at ECI Jewelers

ECI Jewelers offers a curated selection of authentic Audemars Piguet watches — Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, Royal Oak Chronograph, Royal Oak Jumbo, Royal Oak Openworked, Offshore Diver, rose gold and stainless steel AP watches, diamond-set pieces, and rare collector references, depending on availability. Whether you're after a complete-set Royal Oak, a bold Offshore, a blue-dial AP, or a specific discontinued reference, our team can help you find the right watch. Browse online or visit our NYC showroom to view select watches in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Audemars Piguet? A Swiss luxury watchmaker known for high-end craftsmanship, complicated movements, and iconic collections like the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore.

What is the most popular Audemars Piguet watch? The Royal Oak — known for its octagonal bezel, integrated bracelet, textured dial, and luxury sport-watch design.

When was the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak introduced? 1972.

What is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore? A bolder, sportier version of the Royal Oak, launched in 1993, known for larger cases, chronographs, rubber straps, and strong wrist presence.

What are popular Audemars Piguet references? 15500ST, 15510ST, 15400ST, 15202ST, 16202ST, 26331ST, 26240ST, 15407ST, 26574ST, 26470ST, 26420SO, 15710ST, 15720ST, and 26170ST, among others.

Is Audemars Piguet better than Rolex? They serve different buyers. Rolex is known for durability, recognition, and everyday reliability; Audemars Piguet for high-end finishing, bold design, and collectible luxury sport watches. The better choice comes down to style, budget, and collecting goals.

Is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak a good investment? It has strong collector demand — especially stainless steel models, blue-dial references, Jumbo Extra-Thin models, openworked watches, and discontinued configurations — but value always depends on reference, condition, box, papers, dial, and market demand.

How much does an Audemars Piguet watch cost? It depends on collection, reference, material, dial, condition, box, papers, and market demand — pre-owned prices span smaller Royal Oak quartz models up through high-value Jumbo, openworked, perpetual calendar, and rare limited-edition pieces.

Do your Audemars Piguet watches come with the original box? Yes. Every AP watch sold by ECI Jewelers includes the original box; complete-set listings also include the original papers.

Do you offer free insured shipping? Yes, on eligible online orders.

Can I finance an Audemars Piguet watch? Yes, financing is available for qualified customers at checkout.

Can I sell or trade my Audemars Piguet watch? Yes — ECI Jewelers buys and accepts trades on select Audemars Piguet watches. Contact our team for a market-based evaluation.