Audemars Piguet: Appraisal and Auction of Your Watches

Royal Oak, an independent family-owned watchmaker known for its exceptional craftsmanship: the value of Audemars Piguet watches varies significantly depending on the model, movement, and provenance.

Below, you’ll find all our valuation guides dedicated to Audemars Piguet—Royal Oak, complications, and Audemars Piguet collectible watches. Each guide details the price ranges observed at auction and the factors that determine a piece’s value before you entrust it to our state-certified auctioneers.

Audemars Piguet, the oldest family-owned watch manufacturer still operating independently

1875, Le Brassus: Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet combine their talents

It was in 1875, in Le Brassus—a village nestled in the heart of the Vallée de Joux—that Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet combined their complementary skills to found what would become one of the most prestigious watchmaking houses in Swiss watchmaking history.

This founding partnership was built on the combination of two distinct areas of expertise: one specializing in complications, the other in finishing and assembly.

1881: The Official Founding of Audemars Piguet & Cie in the Vallée de Joux

The company officially adopted the name Audemars Piguet & Cie in 1881, thereby legally formalizing the partnership that had begun a few years earlier. This date marks the true institutional beginning of the company, which has been in continuous operation in the Vallée de Joux ever since.

A manufacture still owned by the founding families, now in its fifth generation

An exceptional feat in the contemporary watchmaking industry, Audemars Piguet remains to this day in the hands of the direct descendants of its founders, now in the fifth generation. This extremely rare family continuity grants the company a valuable strategic and creative independence, whose symbolic and heritage value is recognized by collectors alike.

The Vallée de Joux, the historic cradle of Swiss fine watchmaking

An isolated region that shaped a tradition of farmer-watchmakers

The geographical isolation of the Vallée de Joux—which was long difficult to access during the long winter months—fostered the development of a unique tradition of farmer-watchmakers, who cultivated the land in the summer and perfected their watchmaking craft during the cold season.

This unique rural heritage has enduringly shaped the artisanal identity of all the watchmaking houses based in the region, with Audemars Piguet at the forefront.

Le Brassus, the historic headquarters and beating heart of the manufacture

The village of Le Brassus remains to this day the historic headquarters of the company, which has kept all of its most prestigious design and manufacturing activities there, despite the international expansion of its sales network and boutiques around the world.

A local workforce passed down from generation to generation

The watchmaking house relies on a local workforce whose skills are often passed down within the same families over several generations, thus ensuring a rare continuity in the preservation of the most delicate craftsmanship of haute horlogerie.

1972, the Royal Oak: the watch that reinvented luxury watchmaking

Gérald Genta and the Birth of an Icon Designed in a Single Night

Watchmaking legend has it that designer Gérald Genta sketched the final design of the Royal Oak in a single night, at the urgent request of Audemars Piguet’s management. Regardless of how much of this founding story is legend, the Royal Oak, unveiled in 1972, would indeed permanently revolutionize the established norms of luxury watchmaking.

The First Luxury Steel Watch, Featuring an Octagonal Bezel and an Integrated Bracelet

A bold commercial move for its time, the Royal Oak was the first luxury watch made of stainless steel—a material then reserved for the most modest timepieces—yet priced on par with a gold watch. Its octagonal bezel, secured by eight visible screws, and its bracelet integrated into the case represented radical stylistic departures from the watchmaking conventions of the time.

From a risky commercial gamble to the brand’s ultimate icon

Greeted with skepticism upon its launch, the Royal Oak gradually established itself as the brand’s ultimate icon, to the point where it is now one of the most sought-after and highly valued models in the entire contemporary collectible watch market.

The craftsmanship and complications that have made Audemars Piguet’s reputation

Grande Sonnerie, perpetual calendar, tourbillon: some of the most sought-after complications

The manufacture has mastered all major watchmaking complications, from the striking mechanism—which chimes the hour on demand or automatically—to the perpetual calendar, capable of displaying the exact date while accounting for leap years, and including the tourbillon.

These complications, among the most sought-after in the fine watchmaking market, command significantly higher prices than those of three-hand models.

The Arts and Crafts: Guilloché, Enameling, and Gem-Setting

Beyond purely mechanical complications, the house maintains renowned expertise in the Métiers d’Art, guilloché, enamel work, and gem-setting—artistic disciplines that enrich certain exceptional pieces with an additional aesthetic dimension, particularly sought after by the most discerning collectors.

Exceptional Materials: Ceramic, Titanium, Rose Gold, Forged Carbon

Over the decades, Audemars Piguet has developed recognized expertise in the use of exceptional materials, including high-tech ceramic, lightweight and durable titanium, rose gold with its characteristic warm hues, and forged carbon, an ultra-modern composite material. This diversity of materials allows the brand to reinterpret its iconic models in ever-evolving versions.

The Audemars Piguet Museum & Workshop: A Living Heritage in Le Brassus

A spiral-shaped structure designed by BIG, blending the founders’ historic home with contemporary glass architecture

The Audemars Piguet Museum & Workshop, inaugurated in Le Brassus, stands out for its spectacular spiral architecture designed by BIG, connecting the historic founders’ home to a resolutely contemporary glass pavilion. This ambitious architectural project illustrates the brand’s commitment to balancing respect for its heritage with an openness to modernity.

Nearly 300 watches on display, from the brand’s origins to the cutting edge of watchmaking

The museum showcases nearly three hundred watches tracing the complete history of the manufacture, from the first 19th-century pocket watches to the most contemporary creations, offering visitors and collectors alike a comprehensive overview of the brand’s stylistic and technical evolution.

Grand Complications and Métiers d’Art workshops on view at the heart of the museum

A remarkable feature of this museum is that visitors can watch artisans at work in the Grandes Complications and Métiers d’Art workshops, which are integrated into the museum tour, offering a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship that defines the value of every Audemars Piguet timepiece.

The Iconic Collections That Make Audemars Piguet So Popular

The Royal Oak: From Vintage Models to Highly Sought-After Contemporary Designs

The Royal Oak—whether the vintage models from the 1970s or the most recent contemporary models—remains the most sought-after and highly valued collection in the brand’s lineup, with its relative scarcity on the new market fueling strong demand on the pre-owned market.

The Royal Oak Offshore: The XXL, Sporty Version Adored by Collectors

Launched in 1993, the Royal Oak Offshore reimagines the original model in a more imposing and decidedly sporty version, which quickly won over a clientele of collectors seeking a watch with a bold presence, while retaining the aesthetic DNA of the historic Royal Oak.

Code 11.59, the collection that reimagines the brand’s classic codes

Launched in 2019, the Code 11.59 collection offers a more classic reinterpretation of the brand’s design codes, featuring a round case that contrasts with the octagonal aesthetic of the Royal Oak. This newer collection’s value is still developing on the pre-owned market, but it is already attracting interest from collectors seeking to diversify their collections.

How to Identify and Authenticate an Audemars Piguet Watch

Engravings, serial number, and hallmark: the authenticity markers to check

Every Audemars Piguet watch features specific engravings, a unique serial number, and, for certain models, a hallmark attesting to the quality of the finish. A careful examination of these elements allows an expert to confirm the watch’s authenticity and weed out the many counterfeits circulating in the pre-owned luxury watch market, with the Royal Oak being a particularly frequent target due to its popularity.

Original Case, Movement, and Dial: The Elements That Determine Value

Consistency between a watch’s case, movement, and dial is a key point of scrutiny for the expert, as certain pieces may have had components replaced over the course of their history—a factor that can significantly affect their estimated value compared to a fully original piece.

Certificate of Origin, Case, and Purchase Documents: Keep Them Safe

Preserving the certificate of origin, presentation box, and purchase documents significantly enhances the estimated value of an Audemars Piguet watch, offering the potential buyer a complete guarantee of traceability and authenticity.

What Determines the Value of an Audemars Piguet Watch

Model, reference number, and rarity: Royal Oak watches in steel, gold, or ceramic do not have the same value

The specific model and its exact reference number are the primary factors determining value; a Royal Oak in steel—a material historically associated with the original model—can, paradoxically, command a higher price than certain gold versions due to the relative scarcity of steel models on the new market.

Watch complications: tourbillon, perpetual calendar, skeleton watch

Watch complications—such as a tourbillon, perpetual calendar, or skeleton watch that reveals the entire movement—naturally command a much higher value than three-hand models, due to their significantly greater technical complexity and the considerably longer time required for their manufacture.

Condition, case material, and provenance of the watch

The overall condition—particularly the absence of deep scratches on the case and the proper functioning of the movement—as well as the piece’s documented provenance, round out the criteria considered by the expert when establishing a reliable estimate.

Key market figures: A recent steel Royal Oak generally sells for between 25,000 and 60,000 euros depending on the model, while a Royal Oak Offshore or a model with complications can reach several hundred thousand euros for the rarest pieces.

Get a Free Appraisal of Your Audemars Piguet Watch

Auctie's offers all Audemars Piguet watch owners a free appraisal service, conducted by a state-certified auctioneer, within twenty-four hours.

A free, certified appraisal by a licensed auctioneer within 24 hours

This appraisal is based on a review of detailed photographs of the watch, including the serial number and the overall condition of the case and bracelet, to allow the expert to assess all the valuation criteria outlined above.

Information and photos needed for a reliable online appraisal

To help the expert provide an accurate estimate, we recommend submitting the following:

Clear photographs of the watch from multiple angles, including the dial and case back

The serial number engraved on the watch, if visible

The certificate of authenticity and the watch box, if available

The exact model reference, if known

Remote Appraisal or In-Person Appointment: The Process

The appraisal can be conducted entirely remotely, based on the information provided, or may require an in-person appointment when the complexity of the timepiece warrants it, particularly for the rarest models with complications.

Selling Your Audemars Piguet Watch at Auction

From the reserve price to the final bid: achieving the best price

The auction begins with the setting of a reserve price consistent with the initial estimate. Bidders then place successive bids until the lot is sold, a transparent process that guarantees the seller the best price compatible with market conditions.

Hôtel Drouot and Online Auctions: Reaching Qualified, International Bidders

The reputation of Hôtel Drouot, combined with the growth of online auctions, allows us to reach an international audience of collectors who are particularly drawn to vintage Royal Oak watches and the most sought-after models with complications.

“Auctie’s appraised and then sold my vintage Royal Oak from the 1980s, with great precision in authenticating the exact reference and the condition of the movement.” Testimonial from a client, sale conducted by Auctie’s.

Inheritance, moving, life changes: What should you do with an inherited watch?

Inventory of a Watch Collection and Estate Distribution

In the context of an estate, taking inventory of an inherited watch collection is an essential preliminary step before dividing the estate among the heirs. Engaging a certified auctioneer helps establish an objective value for each piece.

Sell, Keep, or Pass On: Options After an Inheritance

Once the inventory is complete, several options are available to the heirs: keep the watch, pass it on to the next generation, or sell it at auction. Auctie’s guides this decision-making process without ever pressuring the heirs into a hasty decision.

Confidentiality of the process and seller anonymity preserved

Auctie's guarantees every owner absolute confidentiality throughout the appraisal process, with anonymity maintained until the decision—if any—is made to proceed with a sale.

Glossary of Watchmaking and Audemars Piguet

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