Best Ladies’ Audemars Piguet Watches

It’s been 150 years since Audemars Piguet was born in the mountainous region of Le Brassus near Geneva in Switzerland. A very fitting setting for the start of the now legendary brand’s story. Watchmaking at its finest, timepieces that are the haute couture of watches, Audemars Piguet, or AP, creations are special – not just to the brand and me personally, but to the foundations, growth and wild success of the luxury watch industry as a whole. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with AP for a while now and I can confirm that that ‘pinch me’ feeling never goes away. 

During my most recent work with AP on a photoshoot for Vogue magazine (the latest in a very long list of ‘pinch me’ moments), one of the things that excited and resonated with me the most was AP’s innovation and advancement in the field of women’s watches. To outsiders, the world of luxury watches can feel a little like a boys’ club, with many of the most well-known timepieces being designed for men. But, as AP celebrates its storied 150-year history, the brand continues to demonstrate its identity as a trailblazer, spotlighting icons like the Royal Oak Mini which I had the pleasure of modelling for the Vogue shoot. 

So I think that now is the perfect time to get into a roundup of my op recommendations for ladies’ Audemars Piguet watches. Expect many from the legendary Royal Oak range plus other house icons, too. Tick, tick … let’s get started! 

This style owes its inspiration to the original Royal Oak that revolutionised luxury watchmaking upon its release in 1972 by using a stainless steel case instead of one made from precious metals (the established practice at the time). This 37 mm selfwinding model is, of course, cased in steel just like the first Royal Oak watch, and it has a Grey dial that’s alluring yet remains understated. It’s slightly on the larger size for a women’s watch but I wouldn’t class it as big enough to be labelled oversized (unless you have super slender wrists). It’s a classic, sleek and elevated option for everyday wear. 

Now for an option with some SPARKLE. This Royal Oak Offshore has a striking light blue Lady Tapisserie dial (this means it’s dotted with mini 3D pyramid-like squares all over). Dials decorated with this effect are seen a lot within AP’s offerings but this Lady Tapisserie dial is more prominent than many others. Now onto the main event … brilliant-cut diamonds set on the pink-gold case. This new design adds something a little different to AP’s Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph that’s known for its sporty aesthetic. The rubber strap on this version is taupe which is great for pairing with gold jewellery and neutral looks, and there’s also a light blue rubber strap option if you want to switch it out for something more colourful. Plus, the pink-gold applied hour markers are another nice touch. 

This little gem is my favourite. I’ve done a whole review on this watch so go check that out if you haven’t already. It’s the smallest timepiece in the AP Royal Oak collection and was designed to be an updated version of the first Royal Oak Mini released in the late ‘90s. Its ultra-small dial that measures 23 mm gives it a unique look that’s distinct from many other AP ladies’ watches, and the dazzling frosted gold finish shimmers, setting this design apart and proving that all that glitters is in fact (18-carat) gold. AP’s Royal Oak Mini is a precious timepiece in my collection and a forever investment which I adore. It’s probably not the AP design you would most commonly think of as a watch you wear everyday … but what’s wrong with always sparkling?! 

If you love a shimmering finish for your AP Royal Oak watch but think that the mini version is too small, the Royal Oak 34 mm in frosted gold is the watch for you. The 34 mm dial falls more under the medium category of ladies’ watches. What I particularly love about this design is the new golden “Crystal Sand” finish embellished onto the dial. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more luxurious – it quite literally looks like the inside of a cave filled with treasure. Plus, the gold on gold creates a chic monochrome look. 

Classic, timeless and elevated – if quiet luxury was a watch, it would be the AP Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon. The Code 11.59 range has established itself as a popular line for AP despite only being around since 2019, and this option that’s part of the women’s range features the new selfwinding flying tourbillon movement. Timepieces from the Code 11.59 range often feature an alligator strap which feels super luxurious and is a nice switch up from a metal strap. I absolutely adore these light and dark navy blue options that match the shade of the strap with the shade of the dial to give each design a monochrome and almost utility-style effect. 

Which AP ladies’ watch is your favourite? 

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