AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK

To understand the origins of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, it's crucial to first examine the watchmaking landscape of the 20th century. For much of that time, Audemars Piguet produced far fewer watches than its main competitor, Patek Philippe, which significantly ramped up its production, increasing output from around 1,000 watches per year to over 10,000 with the launch of the Calatrava.

Additionally, as the industry shifted from handcrafted to factory-produced models, Audemars Piguet faced the challenge of keeping pace with this rapid evolution. The brand’s dedication to high-end artistry and craftsmanship made it increasingly difficult to compete with the more affordable, mass-produced sports watches, especially the quartz models from Japan, which were not only cheaper but also faster to manufacture.

Audemars Piguet had little choice but to adapt to the rapidly changing watchmaking environment. Enter Gerald Genta, a young Swiss industrial designer with a proven track record of designing watches for brands like Universal Genève and Omega. AP enlisted him to create their very first luxury sports watch.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was unveiled in 1972 at the Swiss Watch Show, which would later become known as Baselworld. Recognized as the world’s first luxury sports watch, the Royal Oak defied all norms.

It abandoned the traditional round bezel found in most timepieces, opting instead for a tonneau-shaped case with an octagonal bezel. Reminiscent of a deep-sea diver’s helmet, the bezel of the Royal Oak has eight exposed screw heads, enhancing the aquatic theme of the timepiece. The watch also features a distinctive bracelet seamlessly integrated into the bezel, paired with a dial featuring a petite tapisserie pattern, giving the timepiece a look unlike any other sports watch of its time.

The AP Royal Oak, however, wasn’t an instant classic upon its release. Watch enthusiasts initially found it odd-looking and overpriced compared to its competitors’ models. However, through effective advertising and shifting societal attitudes (as flaunting wealth became more acceptable), the watch's popularity grew considerably.

The first model introduced, the Royal Oak 5402ST, presented a timepiece that, for the very first time, combined the durability of a sports watch with the sophistication and luxury traditionally associated with dress watches. The self-winding Caliber 2121 was also introduced with this watch, offering exceptional precision and seamless coordination with the date display function.

Since its initial release, the AP Royal Oak has featured various models with different configurations and designs, while continuously upholding the core principles that pioneered the luxury sports watch market.

We have various Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks in stock:

Pre-owned Royal Oak Silver Dial 15400ST

Pre-owned Royal Oak Blue Dial 15400ST

Unworn Royal Oak Black Dial 15500ST

Unworn Royal Oak Grey Dial 15500ST

Unworn Royal Oak Silver Dial 15500ST

Unworn Royal Oak Blue Dial 15500ST

Pre-owned Royal Oak Black Dial 15500OR

Unworn Rose Gold Royal Oak Black Dial 15510OR

Pre-owned 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Green 15710ST

Pre-owned 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Orange 15710ST

Pre-owned 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph White Dial 25721ST

Pre-owned Royal Oak Chronograph Rose Gold 26022OR

Unworn Rose Gold Royal Oak Chronograph Blue Dial 26240OR

Pre-owned Royal Oak Chronograph Black Dial 26240ST

Pre-owned Royal Oak Chronograph Black Dial 26320OR

Unworn Royal Oak Chronograph Black Dial 26331ST

Pre-owned Royal Oak Chronograph Panda 26331ST

Pre-owned Royal Oak Two Tone Champagne Diamond Dial 56023AC