AUDEMARS PIGUET. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND BRACELET
AUDEMARS PIGUET. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND BRACELET
AUDEMARS PIGUET. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND BRACELET
AUDEMARS PIGUET. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND BRACELET
3 More
AUDEMARS PIGUETROYAL OAK 'C-SERIES' REF. 5402ST
AUDEMARS PIGUET. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND BRACELET

SIGNED AUDEMARS PIGUET, ROYAL OAK 'C-SERIES' MODEL, REF. 5402ST, NO. C 1847, CIRCA 1980

Details
AUDEMARS PIGUET. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND BRACELET
SIGNED AUDEMARS PIGUET, ROYAL OAK 'C-SERIES' MODEL, REF. 5402ST, NO. C 1847, CIRCA 1980
Movement: Automatic
Dial: Black, Tapisserie
Case: 39 mm. wide
With: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet and deployant clasp, overall length approximately 180 mm., presentation box
Remark: Fresh to market

Brought to you by

Remi Guillemin
Remi Guillemin Head of Watches, Europe and Americas

Check the condition report or get in touch for additional information about this

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

Sign in
View condition report

Lot Essay

Unveiled at Baselworld in 1972, Audemars Piguet astonished the world by creating the first steel wristwatch marketed as a luxury good. Designed by the legendary Gerald Genta, the inspiration behind the Royal Oak derived from the early diver’s helmets, in which the design can be easily recognized in the octagonal bezel. Genta’s ethos closely shadowed 'form follows function' in which this was utilized in the fixed bolts of the bezel that were screwed in from the back, creating a watertight seal. Another key feature of reference 5402 was the integrated steel bracelet, adding to the robust nature of the timepiece designed for everyday wear. The dial features a black tapisserie guilloché pattern that has been intricately cut by hand, adding to the legibility and industrial aura of the watch.

Although Gerald Genta and Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak is one of the most iconic and legendary watches today, it was not met with instant success and took an incredible amount of marketing to make it an icon. First, the timing of its release can be seen as quite troublesome as the Swiss watch market was in turmoil from the quartz crisis, bankrupting nearly two thirds of the industry. Second, it was difficult to convince luxury buyers that steel was worth more than precious metal. In fact, the original MSRP of reference 5402 was $3,300 Swiss Francs, the same price of a Jaguar XJ6, and multiples of gold watches. But its hefty price tag was much in part due to the unbelievable amount of work it took to polish the multi-faceted surfaces of the case and integrated bracelet which create the lovely sport-chic, shimmering allure of the watch. Further to this point, when the prototype timepiece was displayed at Baselworld 1972, the watch a was made of white gold as Audemars Piguet had yet to perfect polishing steel as the at-the-time machinery has considerable tolerances when working with the harder, more robust material in opposition to gold. It would take decades of marketing and investment for consumers to come to appreciate how revolutionary the Royal Oak really was from a physical and philosophical point.

Incredibly hard to find today, the present timepiece was gifted from the original owner to the present owner. It is a 'C-Series' timepiece which were manufactured from the late 1970s to early 1980s, and the caseback covets an engraving dating this specific watch to 1980. Less than 1,000 examples were created in this batch, making these watches exceedingly rare. Reference 5402 utilizes ultra-thin Caliber 2121 helping it wear incredibly comfortably on the wrist at only a smidgen over 7mm. The watch has a wonderful presence thanks to its 39mm case with an integrated steel bracelet that shimmers at different angles. It lacks a seconds hand, giving the watch a precise industrial design, making the present lot a wonderful opportunity to own and cherish an original Gerald Genta Royal Oak timepiece.

More from Important Watches

View All
View All