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Lot Essay
Examples of the original Royal Oak 'C Series' are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, firmly establishing them among the great classic must-have watches for the serious collector. The present C Series with a color-changing tropical dial is a remarkable rarity and a highlight. Because of the lacquer's unpredictable aging process, every tropical dial is by nature completely unique. In this case, the dial has turned from its initial black color to an incredibly appealing light bronze-gold hue that gradually changes based on how the watch catches the light.
The present timepiece is further distinguished by the coveted AP logo positioned at six o’clock, a characteristic detail of earlier Royal Oak production. The logo was moved to twelve o'clock at the end of 1978, mostly for manufacturing and technical reasons, so this placement would eventually vanish in later examples.
Reference 5402ST
Introduced at Baselworld in 1972, the Royal Oak reference 5402ST, designed by the legendary Gérald Genta for Audemars Piguet, was produced across four distinct series: A, B, C, and D, each marked by subtle aesthetic and technical variations. A total of about 4,288 pieces were produced across all series, with 952 examples coming from the C Series. Today, early series Royal Oaks, particularly those with distinctive tropical dials such as the present example, are among the most sought-after and historically important examples of this groundbreaking luxury sports watch.
The present timepiece is further distinguished by the coveted AP logo positioned at six o’clock, a characteristic detail of earlier Royal Oak production. The logo was moved to twelve o'clock at the end of 1978, mostly for manufacturing and technical reasons, so this placement would eventually vanish in later examples.
Reference 5402ST
Introduced at Baselworld in 1972, the Royal Oak reference 5402ST, designed by the legendary Gérald Genta for Audemars Piguet, was produced across four distinct series: A, B, C, and D, each marked by subtle aesthetic and technical variations. A total of about 4,288 pieces were produced across all series, with 952 examples coming from the C Series. Today, early series Royal Oaks, particularly those with distinctive tropical dials such as the present example, are among the most sought-after and historically important examples of this groundbreaking luxury sports watch.