Left, a signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Quantieme Perpetuel Model, Ref. 25654ST, No. 219, Case No. C-28299, circa 1990. Sold for CHF 264,600. Right, a signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref.

5 reasons collectors love Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches

The Royal Oak, a design classic that celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022, is Audemars Piguet’s best-known and perhaps most collectable watch. Here’s why it is so esteemed by aficionados — illustrated with lots offered at Christie’s

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  • The Royal Oak has the best back story in the world of Swiss watches

The Royal Oak came along at a moment in the early 1970s when Audemars Piguet, like the entire Swiss watch industry, was facing an existential threat. The so-called ‘quartz crisis’ — the emergence of inexpensive quartz-powered movements — spelled disaster for the Swiss maisons, all of which specialised in costly mechanical dress watches. And in the world at large, lifestyles were changing.

Customers were looking for a watch that they could wear all day at work, take out on the slopes, and then keep on for dinner — a practical piece of kit rather than a time-telling item of jewellery. What people wanted, did they but know it, was a sports watch.

Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 5402BA, Movement No. 198202, Case No. B34786, No. 460, circa 1979. An extremely rare 18k gold automatic wristwatch with diamond-set tapisserie dial and date. Case 39 mm. diam. Sold for CHF 126,000 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 5402BA, Movement No. 198'202, Case No. B34786, No. 460, circa 1979. An extremely rare 18k gold automatic wristwatch with diamond-set tapisserie dial and date. Case: 39 mm. diam. Sold for CHF 126,000 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Quantieme Perpetuel Model, Ref. 25654ST, No. 219, Case No. C-28299, circa 1990. An extremely rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases and bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 264,600 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Quantieme Perpetuel Model, Ref. 25654ST, No. 219, Case No. C-28299, circa 1990. An extremely rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases and bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 264,600 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

For Georges Golay, managing director of Audemars Piguet, the realisation seems to have come as a sudden epiphany.

On the eve of the Swiss Watch Show in 1971, he asked Gérald Genta to design a new watch for the firm. It had to be stylish but democratic, made from steel not gold, innovative but attractive — oh, and the design had to be ready the next day.

Like Rumpelstiltskin in the fairy tale, Genta wrought his magic overnight. In the morning he handed Golay a finished sketch: octagonal bezel, visible screws — it was the Royal Oak on paper.

Soon after the watch went into production in 1972, it began to appear on the wrists of trendsetters such as Alain Delon and Karl Lagerfeld. Audemars Piguet was saved.

Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 5402SA, No. 805, circa 1981. A very rare and elegant stainless steel and 18k gold automatic wristwatch with date and bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 50,400 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 5402SA, No. 805, circa 1981. A very rare and elegant stainless steel and 18k gold automatic wristwatch with date and bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 50,400 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

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  • The Royal Oak is presently having a special moment

The Royal Oak turns 50 in 2022, an anniversary that is focusing attention on this mould-breaking piece of design. Many references and variations have appeared down the years, which means that there is a Royal Oak to suit every shade of horological taste and opinion.

At Christie’s upcoming Rare Watches sale, there is a chance to acquire an ‘A-series’ Royal Oak (below left). One of the first 1,000 ever made, it has the serial number 1741. There are also more recent but perhaps even rarer finds, such as the ‘RO Green’ (below right). Made in very small numbers and only sold through AP boutiques, this example is the first offered at auction.

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak A Series Model, Ref. 5402ST, No. A 1741, circa 1974. A rare and highly attractive stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date, bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 189,000 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak 'A Series' Model, Ref. 5402ST, No. A 1741, circa 1974. A rare and highly attractive stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date, bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 189,000 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 15202PT, circa 2021. An exceptionally rare and attractive platinum automatic wristwatch with green dial, date, bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 441,000 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 15202PT, circa 2021. An exceptionally rare and attractive platinum automatic wristwatch with green dial, date, bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 441,000 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

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  • It’s the design that keeps on giving

It is often said that Genta was inspired by the metal collar of a deep-sea diving helmet, or the portholes of a battle cruiser. The name is certainly nautical; it was borrowed from Britain’s Royal Navy, which over the course of 300 years has seen eight vessels called the Royal Oak (fighting ships, like fine watches, go through many iterations).

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Quantieme Perpetuel Model, Ref. 25636BA, Movement No. 405566, Case No. D63109, circa 1996. A very rare and attractive 18k gold skeletonized perpetual calendar automatic wristwatch with moon phases, bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 264,600 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Quantieme Perpetuel Model, Ref. 25636BA, Movement No. 4'055'66, Case No. D63109, circa 1996. A very rare and attractive 18k gold skeletonized perpetual calendar automatic wristwatch with moon phases, bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 264,600 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

The distinctive bezel now functions as a kind of picture frame, within which Audemars Piguet’s designers express their abundant creativity.

Over the years, the Royal Oak has appeared in references with every conceivable complication (perpetual calendars, chronographs, tourbillons). There is a range of candy colours, like the first iMacs. And there are versions that feature precious materials — Genta’s stainless-steel aesthetic notwithstanding — such as platinum, titanium, diamonds, and all the varieties of watchmakers’ gold.

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Offshore, Ref. 25844BC, No. 013, Case No. D 91721, circa 2000. An impressive and possibly unique 18k white gold and diamond-set automatic chronograph wristwatch with tachymeter, date and bracelet. Case 42.3 mm wide. Sold for CHF 176,400 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Offshore, Ref. 25844BC, No. 013, Case No. D 91721, circa 2000. An impressive and possibly unique 18k white gold and diamond-set automatic chronograph wristwatch with tachymeter, date and bracelet. Case 42.3 mm wide. Sold for CHF 176,400 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

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  • The Royal Oak Offshore is a reference with the heft of a Sherman tank

The Offshore debuted in 1993, and caused almost as much of a commotion as the 1972 original. It was, by the standards of the time, huge: 42 mm in diameter and 15 mm thick. It was heavy, too — the platinum 26470PT reference came in at 431.9 grams.

Just wearing one was a kind of day-long workout, which is perhaps why Arnold Schwarzenegger took a shine to the Offshore, and sported one in the movie End of Days.

This forged carbon and ceramic Ginza 7 is from a limited edition of 200, launched in July 2011 to support Japan’s response to the devastating Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ginza 7 Edition, Ref. 26205AU, No. 145⁄200, circa 2012. A very rare and attractive carbon and ceramic limited edition automatic chronograph wristwatch with date. Case 42 mm wide. Sold for CHF 40,320 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ginza 7 Edition, Ref. 26205AU, No. 145⁄200, circa 2012. A very rare and attractive carbon and ceramic limited edition automatic chronograph wristwatch with date. Case 42 mm wide. Sold for CHF 40,320 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

There have been some astonishing limited editions down the years, such as the black and brutal Offshore Survivor, which looks like it was designed for Batman’s utility belt. You can well imagine that, at the touch of one of those prominent pushers, out would pop a mini grappling hook or a metal-slicing bat-laser.

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 5402BC, No. 29, circa 1977. A remarkable and uniquely attractive 18k white gold automatic wristwatch with mark 1 tropical diamond-set dial, date and 18k white gold royal oak bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 327,600 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 5402BC, No. 29, circa 1977. A remarkable and uniquely attractive 18k white gold automatic wristwatch with mark 1 tropical diamond-set dial, date and 18k white gold royal oak bracelet. Case 39 mm wide. Sold for CHF 327,600 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 14790ST, Case No. E3501, circa 2001. A highly attractive and rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, Klein dial. Case 36 mm wide. Sold for CHF 100,800 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model, Ref. 14790ST, Case No. E3501, circa 2001. A highly attractive and rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, 'Klein' dial. Case 36 mm wide. Sold for CHF 100,800 on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in Geneva

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  • The Royal Oak is a timepiece of enormous grace and delicacy

Because it has such a weighty presence, it is easy to forget that the Royal Oak is also an intricate and minutely detailed piece of horological design.

The ‘petite tapisserie’ of the dial, something that has been there since the beginning, makes it appear that the face of the watch has a warp and a weft, as if it were woven from some impossible alloy of silver and silk. The original tapering steel wristband was super-intricate — tough but flexible, like the tail of a baby dragon.

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Elements such as the hands have evolved and changed from one reference to the next, but they have always had the elegance of a hand drawn in the sketchbook of a Renaissance master. The Royal Oak is, in a word, a masterpiece.