Description

The ‘Royal Oak’ overturned the prevailing codes in 1972 during a period of existential crisis for the watch industry due to the boom of the cheap Quartz watches made in Asia.

The company had to come with a bold, solid stainless sports steel luxury watch, they gave the mission to Gerald Genta to design it.
He got the inspiration from a deep-sea-diving helmet, the result was an octagonal bezel, visible mounting screws, a large case of 39mm with an integrated bracelet, a very futuristic design for the seventies.
Within 2-3 years they sold about 1000 watches establishing a new segment within the industry and pioneered the popularity and desirability of the steel sports luxury watch.

The first model released was the reference 5402 known today as the “Royal Oak A series”, with a thin automatic calibre 2121 movement that is still made today.

Since they treated steel as gold, the level of finishing was remarkable and so was the retail price, for comparison purpose a similar Rolex sport watch was 10x cheaper.

Today, Audemars Piguet still produces a range of Royal Oaks in different sizes (33 to 41mm) for ladies and men, from titanium, rose gold, yellow gold and platinum metals, various dial colours and with different complications.

Presenting the exceptionally rare Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon 26730ST.OO.1320ST.02, where pioneering technology entwines with quintessential design, immersing wearers and onlookers into a world where mechanical mastery meets aesthetic brilliance.

This model perpetuates the illustrious lineage of the self-winding tourbillon Royal Oaks, commencing with its predecessor, the 26530TI, and its notably sandblasted slate grey dial. In a captivating divergence, Audemars Piguet introduces a compelling smoked blue-green dial, meticulously crafted in the brand’s iconic ‘Grande Tapisserie’ pattern for this exquisite reference.

In a meticulous selection of materials, Le Brassus has chosen to fashion both the 41mm case and the bracelet from supremely light, yet remarkably robust Stainless Steel, thereby significantly reducing the watch’s overall weight. Despite Stainless Steel being a particularly challenging material to work with, Audemars Piguet masterfully maintains the quintessential aesthetic finish with a hand-polished and satin-brushed bracelet, showcasing its unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and innovation.

As a centerpiece of horological ingenuity, this timepiece unfurls the spectacle of a flying tourbillon, positioned gracefully at 6 o’clock. With no attachment to a bridge, the tourbillon seems to float ethereally, drawing the gaze into the intricate movement beneath the surface while offering a mesmerizing dance of mechanics in motion.

Housing the self-winding Calibre 2950, the timepiece boasts a formidable 65-hour power reserve, assembled with 27 jewels and 270 components. The skeletonized rotor allows an enchanting view into the movement, accessible both through the visible tourbillon cage and the transparent sapphire crystal case back, offering a discreet invitation to admire the harmonic interplay of the timepiece’s inner workings. This model, in all its grandeur, is not merely a watch but a manifestation of horological artistry and innovation, where every component, visible or concealed, plays a part in the symphony of its operation and elegance.

Audemars Piguet – bio

Audemars Piguet is a Swiss manufacturer of mechanical watches founded in 1875. They began in the Vallée de Joux. Jules Louis Audemars formed a partnership with Edward Auguste Piguet. Audemars created complicated blank watch movements for other manufactures to use. Piguet specialized in the final regulation of watches. They then split responsibilities when they began their own company. Audemars was in charge of production and technical aspects while Piguet focused on sales and management. One of their first achievements was creating the first repeater wristwatch in 1892 and in 1972 the iconic steel “Royal Oak”.