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Lot Essay
According to the Archives of Audemars Piguet, the present watch no. 67'157, Royal Oak no. A 157, movement no. 127'318, cal. 212, ref. 5402St was sold in Belgium in 1972.
Launched in 1972 and designed by the widely acclaimed Gérald Genta, the Royal Oak is without a doubt Audemars Piguet’s most important and iconic wristwatch ever created. A game-changer for the luxury watch industry, the stainless steel version was priced at CHF3,650, above many gold watches due mainly to its complex case structure and a handmade bracelet with links of decreasing sizes.
Part of the first 1000 “A-series” Royal Oaks ever created, the present example is numbered “A 157”, denoting that it was the 157th to be made. Watches featuring an individual number between A 100 and A 1000 usually incorporate the last three numbers indicated on the case back within the serial number inscribed inside the case and preceded with the number 67. Correctly engraved 67’157, the present example furthermore features an original “A Series” dial, with the applied AP logo correctly placed between the 9th and 11th line, calculated from the bottom part of the dial, and the correct “SWISS” script stamped below the 6 o’clock index. It is furthermore fitted with the original crown, date wheel and bracelet made by the renowned Gay Frères and stamped 1.72 for the first quarter of 1972.
The most notable characteristic of this A-Series however is the colour of its dial, which, over the course of its 48 years of existence, has aged from black to a highly attractive bronze tone. Isolated parts to center and lower half have preserved a darker shade whereas the remaining surface shows a nearly uniform bronze-gold tone, with a glittering sunray appearance depending on the position in which the watch is held. The luminous material to the indexes has aged to a shade of sand, perfectly harmonizing with the colour of the dial.
Consigned by the son of its first owner this all original watch with its unique colour-change dial is an extreme rarity, a highlight for the collector seeking the finest and most important examples of iconic watches.
For descriptions and illustrations of reference 5402ST see Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 5402 by "mstanga".
Launched in 1972 and designed by the widely acclaimed Gérald Genta, the Royal Oak is without a doubt Audemars Piguet’s most important and iconic wristwatch ever created. A game-changer for the luxury watch industry, the stainless steel version was priced at CHF3,650, above many gold watches due mainly to its complex case structure and a handmade bracelet with links of decreasing sizes.
Part of the first 1000 “A-series” Royal Oaks ever created, the present example is numbered “A 157”, denoting that it was the 157th to be made. Watches featuring an individual number between A 100 and A 1000 usually incorporate the last three numbers indicated on the case back within the serial number inscribed inside the case and preceded with the number 67. Correctly engraved 67’157, the present example furthermore features an original “A Series” dial, with the applied AP logo correctly placed between the 9th and 11th line, calculated from the bottom part of the dial, and the correct “SWISS” script stamped below the 6 o’clock index. It is furthermore fitted with the original crown, date wheel and bracelet made by the renowned Gay Frères and stamped 1.72 for the first quarter of 1972.
The most notable characteristic of this A-Series however is the colour of its dial, which, over the course of its 48 years of existence, has aged from black to a highly attractive bronze tone. Isolated parts to center and lower half have preserved a darker shade whereas the remaining surface shows a nearly uniform bronze-gold tone, with a glittering sunray appearance depending on the position in which the watch is held. The luminous material to the indexes has aged to a shade of sand, perfectly harmonizing with the colour of the dial.
Consigned by the son of its first owner this all original watch with its unique colour-change dial is an extreme rarity, a highlight for the collector seeking the finest and most important examples of iconic watches.
For descriptions and illustrations of reference 5402ST see Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 5402 by "mstanga".