Audemars Piguet, 150 years of time found

There is a time that is measured in seconds, minutes, mechanical complications. And there is a time that is handed down: made of visions, courageous choices, roots that resist the centuries. In the heart of the Vallée de Joux, in 1875, two young watchmakers gave birth to what would become one of the most prestigious manufactures in the world: Audemars Piguet. Today, 150 years after that foundation, the brand’s heart is always there in a small Swiss valley where time, however, has not stopped.
We talk about it with Andrea Cardillo, country general manager for Italy, for twenty years in the company that talks to us about the history of the brand and future challenges.

This year Audemars Piguet celebrates its 150 years of history. What do you think are the most significant stages of the brand?
«A century and a half is difficult to summarize, but I try. It all started in 1875. We are in the Vallée de Joux, in Switzerland, above the Geneva mountains. There is a precise reason why everything is born there. The area was chosen by religious minorities, the Calvinists specifically, fleeing France after the cancellation of the Nantes’ edict is a very particular area, with rigid winters that forced to stay at home, but rich in iron in the subsoil: and this has favored a strong specialization in the processing of mechanics and developed extraordinary engineering skills. The valley thus became the cradle of world high watchmaking “

And the brand is born?
«After a century of technical aging, Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet meet and found the manufacture. Audemars was more focused on production and technique, Piguet was more commercial and quality control. It is a fascinating story that has not only geographical, but also historical “roots”

What values have remained unchanged by the Foundation today?
«Certainly the value of the family. The Audemars and Piguet families still represent the majority in the company board. And then the tradition: we are still in Le Brassus, where everything was born. We could have moved to Geneva, as many have done, but the founders want to maintain this bond with the origins ».

How can you combine tradition and innovation, without losing identity?
“It is the challenge of all the big brands, in watchmaking as in fashion. We must combine respect for tradition, which must not become static, without going to the extreme innovation that distorts the essence of the brand. A balance must be found: rework the status achieved, without ever being satisfied. I make an example. In 2018, one of our best sellers was the perpetual Royal Oak calendar. We could simply continue to produce it as it was, since the demand was very strong. Instead, our research and development department has decided to go further, presenting the thinner perpetual calendar in the world: less than three millimeters for a complicated clock. A unique engineering company. Here is the point: innovate without denying what you are. Never stop ».

What are the iconic models that, in your opinion, better represent the soul of the brand?
«The Royal Oak is certainly our most recognizable model. Its launch, in 1972, marked a revolution in high watchmaking: for materials, design, dimensions. It was not round, it was octagonal, with an integrated steel bracelet. A watch completely out of the patterns of the time, which only included precious metal watches and classic shapes. And at the age of fifty he is still a super modern model that works. It was also the first time, in a hundred years of history, that Audemars Piguet produced a thousand specimens in series: a great risk, which has become an extraordinary success. This audacity, this courage and this push towards innovation are the basis of our values ».

In 2025, for the age of 150, will there be important news?
“We decided to do things big. During the year we will present five new complicated calibers, never seen before. The first has already been revealed: a perpetual calendar that can be completely adjusted through the crown, without the side corrected. A result resulting from years of work. And then there will be news in the second half, in particular on the female front: new models, a new nuance of our ceramic – a deep night blue – and a great surprise towards the end of the year “.

What does it mean for you to guide the brand in Italy in such a special year?
«For me it is a great responsibility, but also a great pride. I have been working in Audemars Piguet for twenty years: I saw the 130 °, the 140th and now the 150th anniversary. I feel part of this story. Italy, then, is an important market: mature, conscious, with a great culture of design and craftsmanship. When we organize events with our customers, the level of competence is very high. It is a beautiful, stimulating dialogue, and that’s also why we want to celebrate in style, in every boutique and cities where we are present ».

What was his first watch? Is there a model that is particularly linked to?
«I grew up in a family that already worked in the watch sector, so I am a” son of art “. I was passionate about: at 19 I started working, then at 24 I entered Audemars Piguet: a dream that was realized. My “heart” watch is the one I presented at my first Fiera in Geneva: a 39 mm Royal Oak. I composed it in 2005 and it is still my favorite today ».

In your opinion, what does it mean today to choose an Audemars Piguet?
“It means choosing something that goes beyond time. Not only technical or luxury, but a story, an identity, a way of thinking. Those who choose one of our watch seeks uniqueness, authenticity, and often feel part of a small world made of details, of excellence, of emotion. It is not just an object: it is a symbol, often also a memory ».