This year, Audemars Piguet celebrates its 150th anniversary, a milestone that invites reflection not only on its innovations and iconic designs but also on the people behind them. And while the Manufacture is often associated with complicated movements and the bold lines of the Royal Oak, it’s also a brand whose history has quietly and powerfully been shaped by women.

That’s a story I personally connect with, and one of the many reasons I’m proud to wear my AP every day.

The Women at the Beginning

Before Audemars Piguet was officially founded in 1875, women in the Vallée de Joux were already contributing to the world of fine watchmaking. They weren’t just assembling parts. They were engraving, decorating, and perfecting movements with incredible attention to detail, often from their own homes during the quiet winter months.

It’s a part of watch history that’s often overlooked, but it matters. These women laid the groundwork for the kind of precision and beauty that would become a hallmark of the Vallée de Joux, including brands like Audemars Piguet. Their contributions helped shape the high standards of craftsmanship that the region is renowned for, long before their names were ever known.

Reimagining Icons: Jacqueline Dimier’s Royal Oak

In 1976, the Manufacture did something bold. They handed the design of the first women’s Royal Oak to Jacqueline Dimier. She was one of the very few female watch designers in Switzerland at the time, and instead of simply shrinking the iconic Royal Oak, she completely reinterpreted it.

What she created was powerful yet refined. Feminine, but never delicate. It carried the same strong lines and unapologetic design of the original, with a new kind of wearability that felt modern, intentional, and confident.

Collaboration, Craft and Carolina Bucci

More recently, AP has continued to champion female creativity, not just internally but through artistic collaboration. One of the most inspiring examples is the work with Carolina Bucci, the Florentine jewelry designer who brought a completely new texture and energy to the Royal Oak.

Her Frosted Gold editions use a traditional hand-hammering technique that turns gold into something that sparkles like it’s been dusted with diamonds, without using a single stone. It’s craftsmanship, but also artistry. And it’s unapologetically feminine in the best way.

Small but Strong: The Mini Royal Oak

In 2024, AP launched the Mini Royal Oak. With its ultra-compact size and quartz movement, it might seem like a playful addition, but the design language remains just as serious. It’s proof that elegance doesn’t require scale, and that a watch designed for women can be just as sharp and self-assured as any other in the collection.

For many of us, the appeal of a smaller piece isn’t about being dainty. It’s about balance. About strength in subtlety.

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This latest development is not about ticking boxes or making something “for women.” It’s about recognising that women have always been part of the story, and giving them the space to leave their mark.

And that’s exactly what Audemars Piguet has done, again and again, over the past 150 years. Wearing it on my wrist isn’t just a personal pleasure. It’s a quiet celebration of that legacy.

Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet: A Space That Honors Legacy

If you ever plan to visit Vallee de Joux, visiting the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet is a must (by appointment only). Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, the spiral-shaped glass pavilion blends architecture, nature, and horology into one seamless experience. Walking through its curved galleries, you don’t just see complications and craftsmanship, you feel the soul of the valley, the generations of artisans, and that touch of feminine energy we’ve been talking about.