Audemars Piguet is famous for making some of the finest luxury watches in the world. They are known for their incredibly detailed designs and precise mechanical workings. These watches are highly respected and often seen as very expensive, making them seem out of reach for many people.
However, 2024 brings new opportunities for fans of Audemars Piguet. While all Audemars Piguet watches hold significant value, some models stand out in 2024 for both their investment potential and stylish appeal.
The Best and Most Affordable Audemars Piguet Watches to Buy in 2024
Looking for the best Audemars Piguet watches that won't break the bank in 2024? Here are the top picks for both quality and affordability to get your hands on this year.
1. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is often called the brand's most famous and collectible watch. It is truly a masterpiece. Its story is as legendary as its style and performance.
In 1971, the day before the important Swiss Watch Show, Audemars Piguet's managing director, Georges Golay, challenged designer Gérald Genta to design a new watch overnight. This watch needed to be both stylish and practical, with a steel case for everyday use.
By the next day, Genta delivered the final sketches for the Royal Oak, featuring its unique octagonal bezel and visible screws. When released in 1972, it was the first luxury sports watch made of stainless steel. Its dial, with the "Clous de Paris" pattern, became one of the most iconic in watch history.
The Royal Oak has been celebrated for its high-quality mechanical movements and exceptional craftsmanship, including beveling, polishing, and engraving. This makes it a favorite among trendsetters and watch enthusiasts.
2. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
In 1993, Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Offshore, a bigger, bolder, and sportier version of the classic Royal Oak. The Offshore models have larger cases, often exceeding 44 millimeters, and are made from high-performance materials like ceramic and forged carbon.
These watches also feature larger, easier-to-use crowns and pushers, making them popular with extreme athletes and adventurers. The Offshore series expands the famous "Clous de Paris" pattern from the original Royal Oak.
The "mega tapisserie" pattern on the Offshore models is much larger and has a glossier finish, making it stand out even more.
3. Audemars Piguet Millenary
The Audemars Piguet Millenary is one of the most eye-catching watches. Words like "bold" and "innovative" don't fully capture its unique and cutting-edge design. For the past 30 years, the Millenary has gained global attention for its unusual designs, including off-center dials, asymmetric features, and openwork dials that show the intricate mechanics inside.
The Millenary is known for its distinctive oval-shaped case, unlike most watches' typical round or rectangular shapes. This unique shape defines the collection. The Millenary line goes beyond the simpler features of the original Royal Oak, showcasing stunning details like moon phases, tourbillons, and other advanced complications.
4. Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59
The Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 focuses on supreme elegance while being innovative. Unlike the Millenary's oval shape, it combines a round bezel with an octagonal middle case, creating a bold and complex design.
The watch features a double-curved sapphire crystal, which allows for a clear view of the dial from all angles. Many CODE 11.59 models have dials enhanced with enamel, lacquer, aventurine, and other stunning finishes.
The name "CODE" stands for "challenge, own, and dare," while "11.59" represents the minute before midnight, symbolizing the anticipation of a new day and future possibilities.
5. Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars
Jules Louis Audemars, co-founder of Audemars Piguet, was famous for making elegant and intricate watches. The Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars collection reflects this heritage with its slim cases, fitting the style of classic dress watches.
The Jules Audemars watches feature clean lines, traditional round cases, and easy-to-read dials, giving them a timeless and refined look. Many of these watches are made from high-end materials like platinum and gold, adding to their luxurious appeal.
Additionally, the collection is known for its exquisite gem setting, transforming these timepieces into true works of art.
6. Audemars Piguet Edward Piguet
The Audemars Piguet Edward Piguet collection was created to honor company co-founder Edward Auguste Piguet. Though discontinued in the mid-2000s, these watches are still highly valued for their unique features.
Unlike the round cases of the Jules Audemars line, Edward Piguet watches have distinctive rectangular cases, offering plenty of space for features like chronographs and date displays. While they may not be as famous as the Royal Oak series, Edward Piguet watches are celebrated for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship.
One of the Edward Piguet models even won the Complicated Watch prize at the first Grand Prix Horlogerie de Genève, showcasing its intricate design and technical brilliance.
7. Audemars Piguet (re)Master
The Audemars Piguet (re)Master concept is simple yet brilliant: take a classic watch from its history and recreate it using modern technology. The original chosen for this remake is a 1943 tri-dial chronograph, one of about 300 chronographs made by Audemars Piguet in the first half of the 20th century.
Audemars Piguet compares the (re)Master to a "remastered recording from the 1940s," enhancing the original's quality with the latest watchmaking technology and a redesigned dial for better readability.
This self-winding watch features an integrated column wheel and flyback function. Visually, the (re)Master impresses with its slim profile, classic indices, and a two-tone case made of stainless steel and 18-carat pink gold.
The chronograph hands and tachymeter scale are painted blue for readability, while the chronograph minutes totalizer features a red "45," a nod to the 1943 design. This aids in timing each half of a soccer match.
8. Audemars Piguet Huitieme
The Audemars Piguet Huitieme may not have the long history of some other models, but it's still one of the most iconic watches in the brand's collection. Its design draws inspiration from some of Audemars Piguet's most striking mid-20th-century models.
Named after the French word for "eighth," the Huitieme symbolizes a new era in watchmaking. This versatile line includes stainless steel, yellow gold, and rose gold cases, often featuring both brushed and polished finishes.
The Huitieme collection offers a range of watches, from simple time-only models to those with complex chronographs and perpetual calendars.
Final Thoughts on Best Audemars Piguet Watches You Can Buy in 2024
In 2024, Audemars Piguet continued to impress with its remarkable collection of watches, from the iconic Royal Oak and sporty Royal Oak Offshore to the elegant Jules Audemars and innovative CODE 11.59. Each model offers unique features and timeless style, making them excellent choices for watch enthusiasts and collectors.
If you want to buy an Audemars Piguet watch, Music City Timepieces is here to help. We offer a wide selection of luxury watches and provide expert advice to help you find the perfect timepiece.
Contact us today to learn more about our offerings, and let us help you find the ideal Audemars Piguet watch for your collection.