When it comes to borrowing against luxury watches, not all brands are created equal. The so-called “big four” watch brands (Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille) tend to dominate the horological sphere. These brands carry a certain renown and prestige that makes them ideal for asset loans, as they tend to hold their value and are easy to resell.
Today, we are diving deeper into one brand in particular: Audemars Piguet. This Swiss powerhouse has been around since the late 1800s, but its current collections truly took off in the 1970s with the premiere of the Royal Oak line. If you have an Audemars Piguet watch in your collection, you are perfectly poised to take advantage of the multitude of benefits associated with collateral lending.
In this article, we will take a closer look at what makes Audemars Piguet an ideal luxury watch brand to borrow against. We will also break down the process of borrowing against your Audemars Piguet watch in greater detail so that you can move forward with full confidence when you are ready to take the next steps. Accessing the liquidity you need when you need it has never been easier with AMETA Finance Group.
The Story of Audemars Piguet
The history of one of Switzerland’s most prestigious watch brands begins in 1875. In a quaint Swiss village called Le Brassus, two childhood friends would put their heads together to ideate a company that continues to operate under their legacy over 150 years later. These two men, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, distinguished themselves in the highly exclusive and competitive luxury watchmaking industry almost immediately.
For the first century or so of the brand’s history, the company remained small and intimate, employing between 10 and 30 people each year. Audemars Piguet was known for its high-end complications, which were popular among the European aristocracy. Their watches became highly coveted and were typically released in limited edition runs due to the complexity and detail-oriented nature of these exquisite timepieces.
Fast forward to the 1970s, and you will see a sudden and momentous shift in the size and shape of Audemars Piguet. At this time, the Swiss watchmaking world was in the midst of what could be considered a decisive obstacle: the so-called quartz crisis. Basically, Japanese watchmakers had begun embracing quartz movements, which were more affordable to the general public. Swiss watchmakers began to worry about becoming obsolete.
While many Swiss watch companies folded during this decade and the ones after, Audemars Piguet found a way to distinguish themselves in this new, modern world. The company’s executive and design teams knew that they had to find a way to appeal to a contemporary audience. Their older, traditional styles were simply not cutting it. So they turned to an Italian designer whose foothold in the horological scene was well-documented: Gerald Genta.
Genta designed the inaugural Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch, which was released in 1972 and captured the attention of the populace almost immediately. It was a stainless steel sports watch, notable for its departure from the brand’s prior commitment to precious metals and its unique, streamlined look. The Royal Oak featured (and still features to this day) alternating brushed and polished surfaces, a five-link metal bracelet, and an octagonal bezel with exposed lugs. The design is said to be inspired by a diver’s helmet.
This angular, geometric watch quickly shot to fame and remains the foundation of Audemars Piguet’s modern lineup. Since the 1970s, the brand has expanded on the fame and success of the Royal Oak with numerous variations, complications, and even some offshoot lines: the Royal Oak Offshore and Royal Oak Concept collections have found notable success and staying power.
While the Royal Oak and its sister collections tend to dominate public perception of Audemars Piguet, the brand’s other lines ought not to be forgotten. In 2019, the company launched the Code 11.59 at that year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie.
All this is to say that Audemars Piguet watches offer a huge variety of models, references, and complications to choose from. While you will not go wrong with an Audemars Piguet watch in your collection, there are a few options that particularly stand out from the rest.
Which Audemars Piguet Models Are Best for Watch Loans?
So, are there certain Audemars Piguet watches that you should prioritize if you are hoping to borrow against your watch one day? We always suggest choosing timepieces that you love and will be excited to wear as the first and foremost consideration. However, there are a few Audemars Piguet models that have gotten some major traction on the secondary market and offer especially strong options for watch loans.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph: One of the most popular variations on the classic Royal Oak? The chronograph models! Typically, these watches feature two chronograph pushers, one on either side of the watch’s crown. On the face, three subdials indicated time elapsed. As a reminder, the chronograph function basically works like a stopwatch.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ceramic: Audemars Piguet’s ceramic Royal Oak watch lines have proved to be a perennial favorite with collectors and celebrities alike. These watches are available in blue ceramic, black ceramic, and white ceramic (plus, they also feature the highly desirable perpetual calendar function). The model in question? Reference 26579. Celebrities who own a ceramic Royal Oak include DJ Khaled, Kevin Hart, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, Offset, Tom Brady, Stefon Diggs, and others.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Collaborations: The Royal Oak Concept line is where the brand tries out new, avant garde looks and often hosts elite collaborations. Audemars Piguet has offered collabs with Marvel, the famous artist KAWS, Jackie Chan, and others under the umbrella of the Royal Oak Concept. Each of these partnerships has yielded truly stunning timepieces, typically offered in limited runs. A limited edition watch often commands more prestige and desirability on the secondary market.
These are just a few of the elite Audemars Piguet models that you might consider when investing in a Swiss timepiece that you plan to leverage one day. There are many other excellent choices in Audemars Piguet’s inventory as well.
How to Borrow Against Your Audemars Piguet Watch
Now that you know a bit more about the history of and marketplace for Audemars Piguet watches, we are going to talk more about the process of borrowing against one.
First and foremost, it is crucial to understand how watch loans work. Watch loans are a type of collateral loan, which means that you leverage a prestigious asset in order, borrowing money against its value. Typically, collateral loans are offered as a percentage of your item’s market value. Here at AMETA, we offer loans of up to 60% to 80% of the value of your watch.
Collateral loans typically also have lower interest rates. This is because they are less risky for the lender, translating into added benefits for the borrower (that is you). The lender can resell your timepiece if you do not pay back the loan, giving them a simple pathway to recoup their losses. This also means that you will not have to undergo a credit check or submit financial documents like proof of income in order to secure a loan. When you are under a time crunch or have nontraditional sources of income, this is a major benefit.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Watch Loans
Here is everything you need to know in order to successfully procure a watch loan at AMETA Finance Group. We strive to make our process as easy as possible:
- You complete a short online form to get a preliminary appraisal. We will ask for information about your watch, including its condition , date of purchase, authenticity papers, photographs, and more.
- We will send back an estimated loan amount. If you are satisfied with the possible range we can offer you, then you can bring in your asset for the formal, in-person appraisal.
- We conduct an in-person appraisal with our partners at Avi & Co., Manhattan’s experts in elite watches and jewelry.
- We will send over a loan agreement, and you can sign it digitally. The agreement covers items like your item’s appraised cost, interest rate, repayment term, and more.
- You will receive your loan in your bank account. We will wire the money to you in as little as 24-48 hours.
- You will pay back the loan over a predetermined period. We specialize in short-term loans of one to three months, but we offer loan terms up to 12 months. Once you pay back the loan, you will get your watch back in the same condition you left it!
So, what are you waiting for? Start the process of getting a loan on your Audemars Piguet watch today!
Discover Financial Freedom at AMETA Finance Group
The moment that you take out a loan on your luxury watch or jewelry with our team at AMETA Finance Group, you are turning the page starting a new chapter of financial wellness and success. Our partnership with Manhattan’s elite jewelry and watch retailer Avi & Co. helps us make our appraisal process faster and more accurate than other lenders on the market.
Whether you are looking to leverage a diamond ring or borrow against an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, AMETA Finance Group is the place to turn for reliable and reputable collateral loans.
Reach out to our team today to kick off your asset loan journey.
