Time out for lunch! We all returned to the Hotel des Horlogers, where we were treated to an excellent repast, courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre and Audemars Piguet.

 (From left: myself, Nick, Ron, AP’s Regional Sales Manager Michel Golay, JLC’s Simone Prevalet and Mike)

 “FEED US!”

The remains of a lovely salad; the start of a veritable feast:

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Refreshed, our groups again traded places and we were off to Audemars Piguet just up the road in Le Brassus…

Hmmm…. That clock looks familiar!

In the meeting room, our hosts Martin and Mark...

 ...touch upon the 130-year history of the marque, here against a backdrop illustrating AP’s commitment to racing, including the Alenghi Swiss team that claimed the 31^st America’s Cup.

One of Audemars Piguet’s many distinctions is the fact that it is the oldest Swiss watchmaking house still in the hands of its original founding families. In an era of conglomerates, either arrived at by necessity or for profitability, AP stands as one of the few true independents.

Walking up to the Museum level, a plaque honors co-Founders Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet:

Due to time and other constraints, our tour concentrated on the fine AP Museum rather than the Manufactury itself. In addition, as picture-taking opportunities in the Museum were limited, much of this part of the report will need to be oral rather than visual. Oh, well…. there’s always the next visit.

The AP Manufacture employs about 250 people, approximately 100 of whom are highly-skilled watchmakers. Total annual production is about 20,000 fine timepieces, of which 40% are sold to Asia, 30% to North America and the rest to Europe. Approximately 90% of timepieces carry complicated movements. 

Much of the parts manufacturing is carried out at the Manufacture, with the balance coming from workshops within the Vallee de Joux as per historical practice. Audemars Piguet recently brought complicated-movement specialists Renaud & Papi back into the fold and they are the main source of AP‘s complications.

Herewith some treasures from the vaults:

…and some incomparable enamel work:

One cannot think of Audemars Piguet, of course, without thinking of their best-selling timepiece: the magnificent Royal Oak. First introduced thirty years ago as the first stainless steel luxury sport timepiece, the Royal Oak has devolved into an entire genre of watches, available in multiple sizes, movements, functions and materials, from basic time-only steel models  through 18K-and-diamond bling machines…

…to rubber-clad Offshore models and complicated timepieces like the recently-introduced Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph with new manufacture movement. For many of us, in fact, Royal Oak *IS* Audemars Piguet.

Equation of Time, Sunrise/Sunset Times, Perpetual Calendar w/ Astronomical Moon and Auto Movement

AP Star Wheel w/Revolving Center Hub and 2 Rotating Transparent Subdials

Mother of Pearl Perpetual Calendar Moonphase

Skeleton Version of Above Watch

Repitition Chronographe Tourbillon Flyback HW

Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon HW

Despite our limited time and access, we left AP with a new appreciation of fine horology from a company that remains one of the few truly independent Swiss watchmakers