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When comparing Audemars Piguet vs. Hublot, we are comparing two of the most coveted brands in the watchmaking industry. Several factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding which brand to purchase a luxury watch from.
Both Audemars Piguet and Hublot have something unique they offer the watchmaking industry. Most of the watch models produced by the two brands don’t compete directly.
When comparing Audemars Piguet and Hublot, the only watch collections competing with each other are Hublot’s Big Bang collection and AP’s Royal Oak Offshore collection.
Audemars Piguet and Hublot are very popular and make it to the list of top luxurious watch brands from Switzerland.
History
Audemars Piguet History
Audemars Piguet was founded in 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward August Piguet in Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. The brand has been operating for more than 100 years. The brand got global recognition in 1972 when it produced the revolutionary Royal Oak.
The watch remains the most iconic model of the brand. Different models have been launched from the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection, like the 2002 Royal Oak Concept and the 1993 Royal Oak Offshore. The Royal Oak collection is a luxurious sports watch model with a tapisserie dial and an octagonal bezel.
In 2015, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer got global brand recognition by beating the other top watchmaking brands to become the world’s first Laptimer chronograph watch. Audemars Piguet has been seeking sponsorships and partnerships from high profile companies and individuals to improve its brand recognition.
Audemars Piguet has famous basketball player LeBron James as one of its top brand ambassadors. More promotional connections for Audemars Piguet means greater visibility for their brand in the global market.
Hublot History
Unlike Audemars Piguet, Hublot seems to be a much younger brand. Hublot was founded in 1980, close to 100 years after Audemars Piguet was launched, and just eight years after Audemars Piguet made global recognition with their Royal Oak collection.
Hublot was founded by Carlo Crocco, who was an Italian entrepreneur. Carlo Crocco started MDM Genève and later launched the first timepiece from the company. The first watch by MDM Genève was named Hublot, which translates to “porthole” in French.
When launching its first collection, the brand did a shocking combination by combining gold with a rubber strap. It was considered the first luxurious watch collection to have a rubber strap. Hublot presented its Big Bang Collection in 2005.
To maintain a high demand for their collection, Hublot uses a limited edition marketing strategy. Hublot holds several limited editions, and the brand has signed partnerships and sponsorships with top athletes in the world.
In 2011, Hublot signed a partnership deal with their brand ambassador Dwayne Wade, a Miami Heat Player. The Hublot brand is part of the LVMH Watches Division, which is led by Monsieur Jean-Claude Biver.
Watch Comparison
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore vs. Hublot Big Bang
The Audemars Piguet vs. Hublot battle cannot be complete without comparing two of the most famous watch models from each brand. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was first launched in 1978. However, the more advanced and bolder Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore wasn’t introduced until 1993.
The Audemars Piguet 42 mm offshore was designed as a special package for the 20th anniversary of the brand’s Royal Oak collection. Emmanuel Gueit was the designer of the timepiece.
This new extreme design of the Royal Oak collection wowed many watch connoisseurs, giving a more extravagant look to the modest 1970 Royal Oak model.
The Royal Oak sports collection enjoyed a very high demand, which Audemars Piguet couldn’t keep up with. In 2004, Hublot decided to compete with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection. Hublot introduced their Big Bang collection 11 years after Audemars Piguet had debuted their Royal Oak Offshore collection.
Hublot borrowed the design and upgraded it, using flashy colors and unique materials. They also made sure that each model of the Big Bang collection was available in limited edition. The brand ended up attracting many watch connoisseurs with their Big Bang collection.
Audemars Piguet vs. Hublot watch comparison shows that the two brands have featured a wide variety of complications. The two brands’ chronograph models are in high demand compared to the other timepieces from the respective Royal Oak Offshore and Big Bang collections.
The only setback is that Audemars Piguet hasn’t yet developed an in-house movement for their Royal Oak collections.
Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 42
The AP Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 42mm is available in gold and steel, with the chronograph module added on top. The model comes with the option of including diamonds. The chronograph has sub-dials located at the 6, 9, and 12 o’clock markers.
At the 3 o’clock marker, there is a date window. AP uses an occasional ceramic bezel on their 42-mm Offshore Chronograph watch models. This model contains an inverse Cyclops lens.
The Offshore Chronograph uses a Jaeger-LeCoultre- automatic movement, which is a Jaeger-LeCoultre-based modular chronograph. Audemars Piguet has maintained the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph demand by limiting its production to just 40,000 watches per year.
Big Bang Chronograph 44
The Big Bang Chronograph 44mm model is available in various colors and materials. However, the model can be narrowed down to two main variations. The model generally comes in either a black or dark blue dial, with matching straps made of either leather alligator straps or rubber straps.
There are some unique limited variations of the Big Bang Chronograph 44mm, which come in diamond-studded or gold designs. Unlike the AP Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph, the Big Bang Chronograph has a more classic chronograph layout.
The sub-dials are located at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock markers. And just like Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph, the Hublot Big Bang Chronograph also lacks an in-house Unico chronograph movement.
The watch is instead powered by the caliber HUB4100, based on the ETA’s 2892-A2 combined with a chronograph module at the top. Instead of the ceramic bezel found on the AP Offshore Chronograph models, Hublot offers a full ceramic bezel model with rubber straps and carbon fiber dial.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the battle of Audemars Piguet vs. Hublot is very intense, and both parties have a winning chance. The two brands offer the same things and features to the watchmaking market with their top collections.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and the Hublot Big Bang can be confused to be watch models from the same company. The two watches share identical aesthetics and technical capabilities, and they target the same market group in the watchmaking industry. The two models use reliable and accurate movements.
Watch connoisseurs who like variety will consider comparing Audemars Piguet and Hublot due to the wide variety of watch models offered by the two brands. But ultimately, Audemars Piguet stands out not only for being the original makers of the Royal Oak collection but having an excellent reputation for their ‘haute horlogerie’ design and mechanical engineering.
Audemars Piguet and Hublot are well-matched when it comes to watch movements and even the designs. Many watch connoisseurs associate Audemars Piguet with ultimate class, luxury, and elegance.
Despite having a limited edition strategy, Hublot still has a higher production figure than Audemars Piguet, making their watches much cheaper than those from AP. You can purchase new and pre-owned AP or Hublot watch models at Exquisite Timepieces.
