ROYAL OAK MODEL, REF. 56199CA, CASE NO. C19759, SOLD IN 1989

This awesome and sparkling Royal Oak yellow and white diamond-set reference 56199CA with caliber 2508 ultra-thin quartz movement is one of the rarest vintage Royal Oak models of all. Sold at Desco in Hong Kong in 1989, it is surprisingly early for a diamond-set ‘luxury’ Royal Oak. To the best of our knowledge, the reference was only briefly mentioned in the AP archives. This reference is so little known that even veteran collectors may never have heard of or seen it before. The Audemars Piguet Heritage and Museum department confirmed the present watch was factory-set with a total of 116 yellow diamonds and 562 white diamonds on the case and bracelet, totalling appromxiamately 8.42 carats. The beauty and rarity of the diamond-set case and lustrous diamond bezel is enriched by the fully diamond-set Royal Oak bracelet. This watch is not only an almost mythical Royal Oak model, it is also a true delight to behold for any serious AP collector.

The Royal Oak is possibly the most recognizable wristwatch made by Audemars Piguet. Designed by Gérald Genta and inspired by the shape of a historic diver’s helmet, it was available as of 1972. With its generous proportions, unusual case design striking the perfect balance between sporting, elegant and understated, and the very robust construction, the first foray of Audemars Piguet into the world of sports watches quickly became a worldwide commercial success, and marked the beginning of the Royal Oak legend. The first incarnation of this landmark model is the legendary reference 5402ST ‘Jumbo’. The present lavishly jewelled Royal Oak quartz is one of the most exclusive and rarefied of vintage AP productions from the 1980s.