Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet Holding SA was founded in 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet in the Vallée de Joux. The name Audemars Piguet & Cie was acquired in 1881, and today the company is based in Le Brassus, Switzerland and still owned by the family. Before being known as the company that makes the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet created the first minute-repeating movement in 1892, and developing the first skeleton watch in 1934.

F1 Drivers

After years of working with Omega, seven time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher became an Audemars Piguet ambassador in November of 2010. Their first series of Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher editions were released in 2012. 2015 saw the unexpected release of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher, which featured the first mechanical chronograph with alternating consecutive lap timing and flyback functionality. Schumacher is credited with inspiring the movement. Other Formula One drivers with special edition Offshores have included Rubens Barrichello, Sebastien Buemi, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Jarno Trulli.

Singapore Grand Prix

Formula One-themed timepieces not involving drivers were also created, such as the Royal Oak Offshore ‘Singapore Grand Prix’ Chronograph which was unveiled in 2008 in honor of the first Formula One race in Singapore. 2010 also saw the release of the Royal Oak Offshore ‘Grand Prix’ Chronograph.

References

https://www.chrono24.com/magazine/formula-1-watches-p_23897/
https://www.fratellowatches.com/audemars-piguets-tribute-to-formula-1-driver-michael-schumacher/
https://wristcheck.com/discover/icons/the-most-important-audemars-piguet-watches-ever-created-part-ii
https://quillandpad.com/2023/09/04/30th-anniversary-of-the-audemars-piguet-royal-oak-offshore-roo-f1s-high-octane-fairy-tales-of-super-star-racing-drivers/
https://watchbase.com/audemars-piguet/royal-oak-offshore/26207io-oo-a002ca-01
https://luxatic.com/audemars-piguet-royal-oak-offshore-sebastien-buemi/
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/audemars-piguet-royal-oak-offshore-rubens-barrichello-ii-watch-available-on-james-list/
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/audemars-piguet-royal-oak-offshore-juan-pablo-montoya-watch-available-on-james-list/
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/audemars-piguet-royal-oak-offshore-jarno-trulli-limited-edition-watch/
https://hauteliving.com/2010/10/audemars-piguet-royal-oak-offshore-jarno-trulli-chronograph/100857/
https://www.mmcwatches.com/Audemars-Piguet-Juan-Pablo-Montoya-Serie-limitee-1000ex–v3382.htm
https://www.fratellowatches.com/audemars-piguets-tribute-to-formula-1-driver-michael-schumacher/
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-audemars-piguet-royal-oak-concept-laptimer-michael-schumacher
https://www.michael-schumacher.de/en/stories/13/royal-oak-concept-laptimer-michael-schumacher