Rolex and Audemars Piquet are the two giants in the luxury watch industry. Both watches come with remarkable histories, craftsmanship, resale values, and limited edition collections.
How do both these brands differ then? Let’s find out which brand wins the battle of prestige!
Audemars Piguet Vs Rolex: Quick Pick
- If you want high resale value and robust materials for an active lifestyle, pick a Rolex.
- If you want a complicated watch design, Audemars Piguet is the right choice.
Audemars Piguet Vs Rolex: Which One To Choose?
Both these brands come with unique features and iconic styles.
Let’s take a look at how they compare.
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Feature |
Audemars Piguet |
Rolex |
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Craftsmanship |
Known for its high mechanical watchmaking of complicated nature: tourbillons and minute repeaters. |
Known for its in-house excellence and leading-edge technology, such as the Perpetual rotor. |
|
Brand Recognition |
Quality workmanship and design are linked with the brand; one of its most iconic models is the Royal Oak. |
Known worldwide for some of the most iconic models, such as:
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Materials |
|
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Design |
Recognizable for octagonal cases, with some models featuring complications like tourbillons and perpetual calendars. |
Known for the iconic crown logo and conservative design updates, retaining classic elements. |
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COSC Certification |
Not yet |
COSC Certified |
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Resale Value |
Can range from a few thousand to over S$2.3 million in private sales. |
Can range from a few thousand to over S$1.6 million in private sales. |
Audemars Piguet: Why Go For It?
History
Audemars Piguet was founded in 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet. They began their watchmaking atelier on the Audemars family farm and manufactured a wide range of pocket complication watches.
Soon the watchmaking house was famous for its highly complicated watches. They began to supply timepieces and movements to many other watch brands.
The long list of horological creations and records attributed to Audemars Piguet includes the first wristwatch movement with a minute repeater produced in 1899.
Today, Audemars Piguet remains a family company. It still produces unique complicated watches by hand in Le Brassus.
Reasons to Go for an Audemars Piguet Watch
High-Quality Watchmaking
Audemars Piguet is famous for the high quality of watches. They simply bring out the best traditions of Swiss watchmaking. Their exceptional perfection is reflected in every timepiece, testifying to real masterpieces of craftsmanship.
All the models are manufactured by skilled masters who spent hundreds of hours to ensure precision with perfection. This quality-oriented mindset has established Audemars Piguet as one of the very few luxury watches in the world.
Innovative Complications
Audemars Piguet holds a long history of complicated movement manufacturing, having sealed its place very early on as a forerunner of horological innovation.
It is a brand with highly complicated watches, be they perpetual calendars or minute repeaters. Not only do such features allow the brand to flex its technical muscle, but they also give additional functions and aesthetics.
Moreover, Audemars Piguet never stops testing the boundaries of watchmaking and is known to always surprise watch collectors.
Good Investment Potential
Audemars Piguet watches come with high appreciating value and are one of the top collectors' favorites for investment, especially the Royal Oak family.
Moreover, the increasing demand for Audemars Piguet timepieces, especially those in limited editions and iconic models—such pieces are fast becoming a luxury possession.
Iconic Models From Audemars Piguet
2019 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
The watch is quite a luxury timepiece with a complete stainless steel case with a rubber strap. Moreover, the watch is both scratch-resistant and water-resistant up to 300 meters. It comes with:
- Mechanical movement
- Anchor escapement
- Screwdown crown
- 40 jewels
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Safari"
The "Safari" is quite a luxury and sporty watch to start with! The large Arabic numerals with a patisserie-patterned dial give excellent visibility. It also has a chronograph function, bringing more practical value and a date display. Plus, it is water-resistant up to 100 meters.
Audemars Piguet "Michael Schumacher"
Audemars Piguet brought a revolution in the watch industry by launching the Michael Schumacher. The watch itself is a limited edition and comes with a mechanical movement chronograph function dial. The watch is also water-resistant up to 5 ATM.
Famous Celebrities Who Love This Brand
- John Mayer: This Grammy-winning singer-songwriter not only holds great skills in the field of music but is also known for his incredible collection of watches. His penchant for the vintage Royal Oak perpetual calendar model has increased its popularity manifold.
- Ed Sheeran: This singer-songwriter is a watch enthusiast who has been spotted openly flaunting his white ceramic Royal Oak to show his love for luxury timepieces.
- Steph Curry: This NBA superstar is often seen wearing a vintage gold Royal Oak and even sports it at high-profile events like award galas, further raising the cool factor.
- Serena Williams: The tennis legend has been spotted wearing a customized Royal Oak on and off the court, associating it with high-end accessory functionality.
- Drake: Being one of the rappers and hip-hop icons, he has been spotted in several Audemars Piguet watches, uniquely done to his taste.
- Travis Scott: With such dramatic style in fashion, Scott isn't a stranger to rocking something as high-brow as a frosted gold Royal Oak, really cementing that this is not just a watch for dads.
- Justin Bieber: The pop icon celebrated his wedding treating himself to the timeless gold Royal Oak, further proving that this is a milestone watch.
Rolex: Why Go For It?
History
In 1905, Hans Wilsdorf founded the company Rolex in London. The company started by importing quality Swiss movements and putting them into excellent cases.
Later in 1926, the first waterproof watch—the "Oyster"—was launched. The "Datejust" was launched in 1945, and the "Oyster Perpetual" in 1936.
In the 1960s, another classic addition was put in: the "Cosmograph Daytona." With all these remarkable additions Rolex became one of the leading luxury brands in the world.
Reasons to Go for a Rolex
Sense of Luxury
The brand Rolex gives the very essence of luxury, craftsmanship, and innovation. The brand is admired globally for its standard of excellent time-keeping pieces that every collector would die for.
The possession of a Rolex infuses one with an unmatched sense of prestige and power because the brand comes with richness and suave sophistication.
Robust Durability
Rolex watches are built to perform and last. Powerful shapes and top-quality materials—such as the Oyster cases that ensure:
- Waterproofing
- Shock-resistance
- Wear-resistance
The watch comes in handy, especially for people living an active lifestyle.
Timeless Designs
Rolex watches bring in some remarkable icons: Submariner, Daytona, and Datejust—classic in design, and long-lasting in style.
They can be as classy as they are functional, so they suit almost all tastes and purposes.
The timeless quality of Rolex designs guarantees that at least these timepieces will still be desired and admired in years to come.
Resale Value
Many of the watches from Rolex hold their value over time. This is why, these watches are quite a sensible investment for collectors who are fond of luxury watches.
It is this reputation that Rolex holds when it comes to quality, craftsmanship, and innovation. This is what mainly makes others view a watch purchase not only as a fashion statement but also as a likely investment opportunity.
Iconic Models From Rolex
Rolex Lady-Datejust 279173
If you want to add elegance to your wrists the Rolex Lady-Datejust 279173 is what you need. It comes with a 28mm silver case adorned with diamond markers and a stainless-steel and yellow gold Jubilee bracelet. This masterpiece comes with a resistance of 100 meters of water pressure.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 67193
This is an amazing 1990-1999 Rolex Oyster Perpetual wristwatch. It comes in 26 millimeters stainless steel and yellow gold, fluted bezel, champagne-colored sunburst dial with water resistance and self-winding movement. The timepiece also brings in baton indexes and a date display.
Rolex Yacht-Master II
This Rolex Yacht-Master has a 44mm case in stainless steel, a blue rotating bezel, a white dial with luminous indexes, and a chronograph. Water-resistance to 100 meters, self-winding movement; it has a stainless steel Oyster bracelet and is topped with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
Famous Celebrities Who Love This Brand
- Jay-Z: This old-time rapper and entrepreneur has a huge collection of Rolexes, including the Daytona. More than anything else, Jay-Z's sporting of Rolex establishes his kingly status within the music industry and in business.
- Tiger Woods: Golf megastar Tiger Woods, is a shining example of a brand-action association. Woods is mostly photographed on and off links sporting his Daytona and Datejust.
- Warren Buffett: The thrifty billion-dollar investor does not shy away from adorning an 18k yellow gold Rolex Day-Date, aka the "President." The choice Buffett has gone for with this watch is simply a case of opulence and restrained taste.
- Paul Newman: This iconic actor and racecar driver is inextricably linked to the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, making his one of the most highly sought-after collector's items. This really explains why provenance in a watch belonging to Paul Newman—the one sold at a record price at auction—means power.
- John F. Kennedy: It is said that the Rolex Day-Date was given to the late President by none other than Marilyn Monroe, which he seldom used but now seems to be an image firmly seared into the collective consciousness of his legacy. This is, if anything, a watch that carries one of the most bizarre historical moments and simultaneously, one of the very touching parts of the Rolex story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Audemars Piguet more prestigious than Rolex?
Well, it entirely depends on your taste and choice. Rolex is quite a famous brand. It's more like a mainstream status symbol. On the other hand, Audemars Piguet’s limited production and highly complex complications make the brand so exclusive in collectors’ eyes.
Is there a watch brand better than Rolex?
Not better, but brands like Patek Philippe do match the level of standards and luxury when compared to Rolex.
Do Audemars Piguet watches appreciate in value?
Yes, AP watches do appreciate. There’s a sure-shot chance of a high-value appreciation if you go for their limited edition ones.
Is AP older than Rolex?
Yes, AP is older compared to Rolex. AP was founded in 1875, whereas Rolex was established in 1905.
Why is Audemars Piguet so special?
Audemars Piguet watches are rich in history, innovation, and complicated mechanisms. This brand, through the Royal Oak, actually created the luxury sports watch category—elegance and functionality in perfect sync.
Why do Audemars cost so much?
Extensive precision and attention to detail are the main reasons why Audemars is so expensive. Moreover, the brand also has huge investment potential which also adds to the reason for their watches are expensive.