Audemars Piguet Dress Watch

There are certain watches that define a brand, informing its design ethos and becoming nothing short of iconic in the minds of collectors.

For Audemars Piguet, that watch is the Royal Oak—in all its multitudinous incarnations.

Yet the manufacture from Le Brassus did not earn its seat in the triumvirate of leading watch brands—the so-called Big Three—on the success of the Royal Oak alone.

In fact, both Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet came from long lines of watchmakers, and made their reputations long before the Royal Oak was conceived.

Their reputation rested on watches like this one.

Though not bearing a catchy name like the Royal Oak, or boasting complicated movements like the present-day Jules Audemars collection, this dress watch nevertheless captures everything that Audemars Piguet has come to be.

What stands out the most is the airy thinness of the case—while it can’t be any farther removed from the bulkiness of the Royal Oak Offshore, making ultra-thin watches is something at which Audemars Piguet has long excelled.

Starting in the 1920s, manufactures have vied against each other to create the thinnest watches available on the market. The fiercest competition was between Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre, who fired the opening salvo with the 1907 release of a pocket watch movement that was 1.38mm thin. A mere two decades later (which is almost an instant in an industry where research and development can take years), Audemars Piguet introduced a movement that was 1.32mm thin.

And the competition continues even to this day, with watches like this one—with its thin platinum case—exemplifying the manufacture’s skill at producing thin watches.

Because making a large watch doesn’t require any display of skill. However, making a thin one does. For a watchmaker an ultra-thin watch is the ultimate mark of refinement, and the same holds true for the man who wears one.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.