Audemars Piguet
The watch firm of Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux, dated by the company to 1875, when Jules Louis Audemars opened his workshop, and run as a partnership with Edward Auguste Piguet from 1881.
Founded 1875 (by the company's dating); partnership contract 1881, Le Brassus, Vallée de Joux, Owned by The founding families
In the history Switzerland’s network of specialists
Roots in the valley
Its roots lie in the earlier firm of Louis Audemars & Fils, founded in 1811 when Louis-Benjamin Audemars took over Philippe-Samuel Meylan's workshop at Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux, according to the company.1
Audemars Piguet dates its founding to 1875, when Jules Louis Audemars came back to Le Brassus and set up a small workshop under the roof of a house at "Vers chez Meylan"; an advertisement in the Feuille d'Avis de la Vallée de Joux of 23 December 1875 is the only record of the business that year.1
The company itself explains that the 1875 date was chosen around 1903 for a brochure, because in the 1870s firms did not need to register; the partnership contract dates from 1881, and Wikipedia gives 1881 for the name Audemars Piguet & Cie.1, 2
Audemars Piguet says both founders came from old Vallée de Joux families and trained as finishers inside the établissage system; they appear as repasseurs in the 1876 production register of Louis Audemars & Fils, their first client.1
A small house of complications
Edward Auguste Piguet ran the commercial side from 1882 to 1917, according to the company; Wikipedia says the firm had sales depots in London and Paris by 1882.1, 2
Audemars Piguet dates its building at Le Brassus to 1868 and its first purpose-built manufacture to 1907.4, 5
Audemars Piguet's museum says the firm specialised in complications made by hand when serial production was spreading; it showed at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1899.5
By the museum's account the firm stayed small: 10 to 30 craftspeople until 1950, about 100 by the 1970s.5
Families and managers
In the difficult 1940s members of the LeCoultre family of Le Sentier (Jaeger-LeCoultre) joined its board; Georges Golay, the first manager from outside the families, led it from 1945 to 1986 and took a stake in the 1960s, according to the company.1
Audemars Piguet calls itself the oldest watch manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families; that is the company's claim.2, 4
Key dates
- 1811
Louis-Benjamin Audemars founds Louis Audemars & Fils at Le Brassus (company account).1
- 1868
The future Audemars Piguet house is built at Le Brassus.4
- 1875
Jules Louis Audemars opens his workshop; the company's founding date.1, 2
- 1881
Partnership contract between Audemars and Piguet.1, 2
- 1907
Audemars Piguet completes a purpose-built manufacture at Le Brassus.4, 5
Where Audemars Piguet leads
- Based in, PlaceVallée de Joux
Founded and based at Le Brassus.1, 4
- Worked with, CompanyJaeger-LeCoultre
Audemars Piguet says members of the LeCoultre family joined its board in the 1940s.1
- Part of, HistorySwitzerland’s network of specialists
Two Vallée de Joux finishers who set up their own firm at Le Brassus.1, 2
- See also, EventThe pandemic watch boom and correction
Watch Insider reports it as one of three brands whose watches still traded above retail on average after the correction.6
Elsewhere in Watch Vault
- Current coverage
Stories that name Audemars Piguet, newest first (opens in a new tab), in Watch Vault Media.