Which is better Rolex or Audemars Piguet? The big question is which one is the best for you specifically. Today we will do an AP Rolex comparison, two of the top brands in watchmaking

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BRAND RECOGNITION

Whereas Rolex is the most internationally recognizable luxury watch brand, AP is not a household name to your average layman. AP is certainly recognized in the watchmaking community as a better brand than Rolex but because of the exclusivity of the AP brand, the average layman will not realize that your watch is superior to a Rolex.

Audemars Piguet is considered one of the ‘big three’ or as many call it, the ‘Holy Trinity of watchmaking’. Rolex never made it to the Big 3, yet Rolex is still the single most recognized luxury watch brand in the world (according to a recent report by Swiss brand valuation agency Interbrand) and makes excellent watches regardless.

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CRAFTSMANSHIP

AP pays meticulous attention to every single detail in the movement and finishes them to perfection in a way that Rolex doesn’t even compare.

While a Rolex caliber is a very high-quality piece of mechanical machinery, it’s missing that extra detail, that superb finishing that you will find in an AP watch such as the motifs, the engraving which you will rarely if ever find in a Rolex. In fact, most Rolexes have solid case backs that won’t even let you even see the movement or its action.

Which is better Rolex or Audemars Piguet? Rolex has the upper hand on the outside of the watch when it comes to everyday use and durability AP has the advantage on the inside of the watch when it comes to finesse, attention to detail, and of course, high complication watches to impress watch enthusiasts and connoisseurs. 

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ACCURACY

Rolex watches are known for their accuracy. Specifically, since they’ve been putting the words Superlative Chronometer on their watches which means that the watch was regulated and tested to an accuracy. To date, every new Rolex manufactured besides their Cellini collection is meeting this level of superior precision.

AP, on the other hand, is not advertising the accuracy the way Rolex is and this may be because they don’t have a standard minimum precision the way Rolex does. The accuracy of AP watches depends on a few things: the model of the watch, the movement, how long has it been since it was brought in to be serviced, the level of activity of the person wearing it, how the watch is placed when not being worn. There are quite a few variables here as you can see.   

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PRICE

Which is more expensive Rolex or Audemars Piguet? This is an easy one. AP is significantly more expensive and Rolex has a much lower entry-level price than AP. This should not be a surprise since Audemars Piguet is a more upper market brand compared to Rolex. AP is a more prestigious watchmaker and they don’t manufacture nearly as many watches per year as Rolex. Rolex also has a lower-market brand called Tudor with a more affordable entry-level price and many have designs that are of that similar Rolex style

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RESALE VALUE

Is Audemars Piguet a good investment? Most people don’t think of selling something before they even buy it. Some people, on the other hand, take more into account than others when making a significant purchase which often pays out if in the future there ever was a decision to sell the item purchased. That said, resale value is sometimes a consideration worth mentioning, and Rolex is the stronger of the two watchmakers when it comes to average resale value. In some cases, albeit rare, Rolexes have even appreciated in value after purchase and this is not something that most watchmakers can brag about. In fact, Rolex has the highest average resale from all other Swiss watchmakers, a close second is another prestigious watchmaker; Patek Philippe. Do Audemars Piguet watches hold their value? Yes, they hold their value very well and more than many other watchmakers but on average they hold their value slightly less compared to Rolex or Patek which are the top two when it comes to holding value.