In 1875, two young men who shared a passion for fine watches formed Audemars Piguet in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux — the birthplace of Swiss horology and, to this day, home to some of the best watchmakers in the world. Over the centuries Audemars Piguet has evolved into a global enterprise with more than 1,000 employees, yet the company remains guided by its founding values and traditions. The label produces several collections of self-winding watches made from precious gems and metals (even the iconic Royal Oak watch — the world's first high-end, stainless-steel sports timepiece — is available with an 18-karat gold case) and a line of fine jewelry. Limited-edition watches include the leather-and-blackened-steel Quincy Jones (part of its neoclassical Millenary collection) and the Sebastien Buemi — a black rubber-and-ceramic model belonging to the label's high-tech Royal Oak Offshore collection.