Quick answer
Audemars Piguet produced the Edward Piguet collection from the 1990s until about 2011. It is a rectangular dress watch named for Edward Auguste Piguet, who founded the company with Jules Louis Audemars in 1875. No Edward Piguet was ever sold as a "first copy," "replica" or "mirror quality" watch. Those labels describe counterfeits. A counterfeit Edward Piguet costs $50 to $500. Genuine examples trade in the thousands of dollars, and tourbillon references reach six figures.
What the Edward Piguet line is
The line used rectangular and tonneau cases with leather straps. It included time-only models, chronographs, skeleton pieces and tourbillons. Audemars Piguet removed the collection from its catalog around 2011. Buyers cannot inspect one in a boutique today, and that gap helps counterfeiters.
Why counterfeits circulate
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry has estimated that tens of millions of counterfeit watches are made each year, with a value near 1 billion Swiss francs. Counterfeiters favor discontinued references. A buyer has no showroom example to compare against. Sellers use terms such as "first copy" and "super clone" to avoid the word counterfeit.
Checks that separate real from fake
- Caseback engraving. Genuine engraving is crisp and centered. Fake engraving shows shallow or uneven letters.
- Movement. A real Edward Piguet runs an Audemars Piguet calibre with hand finishing. Counterfeits use quartz or basic third-party automatic movements.
- Dial printing. The Audemars Piguet signature and the "Swiss Made" mark sit in defined positions. Fakes drift and blur.
- Case geometry. Real rectangular cases have flush bezels, tight caseback fit and curved sapphire crystals. Fakes show gaps.
- Weight. Gold and steel cases have heft. Counterfeit cases use plated brass or low-grade alloys and feel light.
- Documentation. Genuine watches come with a certificate, a numbered warranty card and service records.
US law
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine for an individual. Import of counterfeit merchandise violates 19 U.S.C. 1526. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy the shipment. A buyer who pays for a counterfeit can lose the watch at the border and gets no manufacturer support.
How to verify a genuine one
Audemars Piguet offers an Extract from the Archives. The document states the reference, case material, movement and sale date. Request it before payment. A watchmaker with an account for Audemars Piguet parts can confirm the movement. Auction house specialists also authenticate discontinued references.
Price signals
Listings under about $3,000 for an Edward Piguet point to a counterfeit or a mislabeled watch. Genuine chronographs and time-only models sell at auction and from dealers with papers. Tourbillons and skeleton pieces sell for more. Any seller who refuses an authentication check is not selling a genuine Audemars Piguet.