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Lot Essay
Very rare and coveted by collectors, the Royal Oak reference 5402BA in 18k yellow gold is seldom seen with its production consisting of only 736 examples- a fractional number when compared to the steel version with a total production of 4,228 examples. Manufactured over the span of 14 years in yellow gold, the present watch is from the earlier years of production and is numbered '471'. The dial features the iconic grey Tapisserie guilloché which has a wonderful lighter-tone shade of grey, and complements the luxurious and heavy gold case.
Reference 5402
Unveiled at Baselworld in 1972, Audemars Piguet astonished the world by creating the first stainless steel wristwatch marketed as a luxury timepiece. 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 dials feature a Grande Tapisserie guilloché which have been intricately cut by hand, adding to the legibility and industrial aura of the watch. Although most of the production consisted in stainless steel, the watch was manufactured in a yellow gold, white gold, gold and steel, with different dial configurations including some with diamond indexes.
Reference 5402
Unveiled at Baselworld in 1972, Audemars Piguet astonished the world by creating the first stainless steel wristwatch marketed as a luxury timepiece. 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 dials feature a Grande Tapisserie guilloché which have been intricately cut by hand, adding to the legibility and industrial aura of the watch. Although most of the production consisted in stainless steel, the watch was manufactured in a yellow gold, white gold, gold and steel, with different dial configurations including some with diamond indexes.