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Born in Le Brassus
For 150 years, our story has been rooted in Le Brassus, a small village that went on to do rather big things. Here, in the Vallée de Joux, also known as the cradle of Haute Horlogerie, the synergy between people, nature, and time gave birth to a passion and savoir-faire passed down from generation to generation.
Driven by the power of unity and an untamable desire to seek beyond the ordinary, we embraced challenges and took our time to craft the extraordinary.
VALLÉE DE JOUX: CRADLE OF COMPLICATED WATCHES
The Vallée de Joux, birthplace of Audemars Piguet and one of the centres of high-end Swiss watchmaking, is an awe-inspiring region nestled in the Jura Mountains, just north of Geneva. Abundant in natural resources, including iron ore, the region provided the conditions needed for the watch industry to evolve and thrive. To this day, its rugged beauty and clear night skies continue to inspire watchmakers, reflecting the timeless connection between nature, astronomy, and timekeeping.
MASTERING AN UNYIELDING ENVIRONMENT
Towards the end of the 18th century, farmers throughout the region began to devote their workdays to horological craftsmanship. During the long and hostile winter months, the resourceful locals turned their skills and resources to respond to a growing demand for watches, with many converting their agrarian dwellings into production ateliers. Gradually, a tight-knit network of family artisans was established in the region, each developing increasingly specialised watch parts. This network, known as the etablissage, lay the foundations of the watch industry we know today.
A SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE FROM 1875 TO THE PRESENT DAY
For 150 years, these talented craftspeople have practiced their skills at the highest level, building on tradition while continuously pushing further the limits of their crafts to create timepieces imbued with the Manufacture’s savoir-faire and forward-thinking spirit.
Family spirit
Proud to be the oldest watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families, Audemars Piguet is endowed with a unique spirit of independence. Forward-thinking, uncompromising, and free-spirited, the founders' long-term vision and values continue to infuse the brand to this day.
1st generation
Jules Louis Audemars | Edward Auguste Piguet
2nd generation
Paul Louis Audemars | Paul Edward Piguet
3rd generation
Jacques Louis Audemars | Paulette Piguet
4th generation
Jasmine Audemars | Olivier Frank Edward Audemars
Audemars Piguet is more than a company. It remains independent and family owned, responsible for the transmission of knowledge and know-how to the future generations. Here in Le Brassus, where it all started in 1875.
Olivier Audemars
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
BIRTH OF A MANUFACTURE
Audemars Piguet’s oldest building, where Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet set up business, was constructed in 1868 in Le Brassus. The first production atelier followed in 1907, which remains part of the brand's headquarters today. As the brand grew in size, additional buildings and manufacturing sites were added in Le Brassus, Le Locle and Meyrin to accomodate the growing number of engineers, watchmakers and craftspeople.
Despite the company's expansion over time, annual production and distribution remains limited to ensure each timepiece responds to the highest quality.
1868
Construction of Audemars Piguet's oldest building in Le Brassus, where Jules Louis Audemars and Edward August Piguet set up business
1875
The original workshop and house where the founders set up business in 1875 in Le Brassus
1907
The first Audemars Piguet Manufacture, Le Brassus
2008
The Manufacture des Forges, Le Brassus
2020
The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, Le Brassus
2021
The Manufacture des Saignoles, Le Locle
Today, Audemars Piguet remains the oldest watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families, thanks in large part to its uncompromising spirit of collaboration.
Jasmine Audemars
Chairwoman of the Audemars Piguet Foundation
More about the origins
Before 1875
Here we take a look back at the years, decades and centuries that led to its founding in 1875, from the first watchmakers in the Vallée de Joux to the wealth of talented artisans who have enlivened the small village of Le Brassus since the beginning of the 19th century.
Read on AP Chronicles
The Epic AP Saga
Published to mark Audemars Piguet’s 150th anniversary, this article takes a look back across the storied history of a watch Manufacture with an extraordinary destiny.
Read on AP Chronicles
New Temporary Exhibition “The House of Wonders"
The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet is opening a new temporary exhibition called “ The House of Wonders”, a journey through the brand’s history that pays homage to the talented people who have shaped Audemars Piguet with their passion and expertise.
Discover more