I was lucky to be the first journalist to peruse in person and photograph the majority of the lots part of the Phillips Watches Royal Oak 50th auction at the end of March. You can see all my pictures here. Tomorrow May 6th, the Royal Oak 50th auctionwill take place at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva, Switzerland. I think that not only this auction will continue to bring attention to the Royal Oak for years to come, but it will also establish some interesting world records for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
Posts filed under Audemars Piguet
From the Editor: Happy 50th AP Royal Oak. Up Close and Personal with Genta's Personal Watch.
Today April 15th, 2022 is the official birthday of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. There’s no better way to celebrate the most iconic sports watch —that changed the watch industry— than by posting some of the pictures I recently took of Gérald Genta’s very own Royal Oak. While I was in Geneva for Watches & Wonders 2022, I was lucky to run into Genta’s Royal Oak at a somewhat secluded and seemingly insignificant small exhibition that almost all other media outlets missed.
From the Editor: The Incredible AP Royal Oaks I Just Saw at the Phillips Royal Oak 50th Auction
This past Wednesday, March 23, 2022, I went to New York City to peruse and photograph the Royal Oaks that are part of the Phillips Watches Royal Oak 50th auction that will take place at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva, Switzerland on May 6, 2022. This sale will feature several historically important watches including case No. 2 of the original Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ reference 5402ST as well as Karl Lagerfeld’s PVD coated Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ ref. 5402ST.
Watch Auctions: Phillips 'The Royal Oak 50th Auction'. Sale Includes a 5402 'A-series' Case No. 2 and 25th Anniversary Tourbillon ref. 25831ST Case No. 1.
Phillips will host a sale especially dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak which will take place at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva, Switzerland on May 6, 2022. This sale will feature several historically important watches including case No. 2 of the original Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ reference 5402ST. This is the earliest example known to come to the watch auction market. The highlights also include case No.1 of the 25th anniversary Royal Oak Automatique Tourbillon and Karl Lagerfeld’s PVD coated Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ ref. 5402ST.
From the Editor: Cartier the 2nd Largest Watch Brand, Audemars Piguet the 4th, and Patek Philippe Falls to 6th Place.
Morgan Stanley just released a piece of research that includes the estimated revenue and units sold by the top 50 Swiss watch brands. While the rankings are relatively similar to what has been published by them in previous years, there are a few surprises. For the very first time, Audemars Piguet has surpassed Patek Philippe in terms of revenue and consolidated its spot as the 4th most important watch brand with a revenue of almost 1.6 billion Swiss Francs.
Watch Auctions: Gérald Genta's Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Original Prototype Drawing Sells for $610,000 USD
Today, the Gérald Genta: Icon of Time Sale in Geneva came to an end, and the original prototype design by Genta of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak from 1972 with accompanying NFT—Lot 1— sold for CHF 564,500 Swiss Francs plus buyer’s fees —approximately $610,000 USD. Wonder who the lucky winner was. Our guess is that it was probably Audemars Piguet directly. We will investigate and try to get you more details.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 50th Anniversary ref. 26240OR with Live Photos
A couple of weeks ago, we brought you our hands-on review of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 50th Anniversary ref. 26240ST in stainless steel and today, we bring you the rose gold version of it on a blue alligator strap and equipped with a Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 hue —blue— dial. As mentioned before, the AP Royal Oak Chrono has seen many iterations and facelifts since its launch in 1997-1998 under reference 25860.
Watch Auctions: Bid on Gérald Genta's Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Original Prototype Drawing Already at CHF 40,000
At the end of December 2021 we brought you the news that Gerald Genta’s very own Royal Oak would be offered for sale at Sotheby’s through three dedicated ‘Gérald Genta: Icon of Time’ auctions starting February 2022. Along with his very own Royal Oak, approximately 30 original Royal Oak design drawings will be offered in each of the sales.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 37 mm ref. 15550 50th Anniversary. Our Hands-on Review with Live Pics.
Two weeks ago Audemars Piguet dropped the new watches to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak. Among the new releases, a new 37 mm Royal Oak ref. 15550 50th anniversary made its appearance and here we bring you our hands-on review with live pictures. While we’ve never been the biggest fans of the face lifted ref. 15500 missing the ‘Automatic’ writing on its dial, at a significantly smaller size —4 mm smaller in diameter— the new 37 mm Royal Oak looks quite fine.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 50th Anniversary ref. 26240ST with Live Photos
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph has seen many iterations and facelifts since its launch in 1997-1998 under reference 25860. Perhaps the most significant up until now took place in 2016 when the Royal Oak Chrono reference 26300 went from a 39 mm case to a 41 mm as reference 26320. Then in 2017, its dial was redesigned and reference 26331 replaced reference 26320. Back then, the hour and minute chrono registers were enlarged, the running seconds subdial was scaled down, shorter and wider applied markers were added and the typeface and transfers on the chronograph totalizers were updated.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' 50th Anniversary ref. 16202PT Platinum with Live Photos
Last week Audemars Piguet dropped the new watches to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ and the new reference 16202 replaces the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ Extra-Thin reference 15202. Among the new watches, an exclusive platinum Royal Oak that is exclusively sold at the AP Houses was presented —a similar watch reference 15202PT was released at the end of March of 2021— and we finally got to review it and photograph it last week.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon ref. 26730. Three New Models to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary.
Continuing with our coverage of the new models celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak, we bring you the three new models of its 41 mm Royal Oak Automatic Flying Tourbillon. Available in stainless steel, titanium, and in 18K pink gold, these new models add to the first three unveiled in 2020 and present the design evolution developed for this jubilee year. All three are equipped with the calibre 2950, an automatic movement combining a flying tourbillon with a central rotor.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' 50th Anniversary ref. 16202
Today January 26, 2022, Audemars Piguet decided to drop the new watches to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' 50th Anniversary ref. 16202 replaces the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ Extra-Thin reference 15202 with a brand new automatic in-house calibre. The new calibre 7121 —which took five years to develop— replaces the legendary calibre 2121 that had been used for 50 years in the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’.
From the Editor: Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks Hit an All-Time High and Why I Decided to Take the Plunge for a Safe Queen from the Grey Market
This New Year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the price for any Royal Oak has hit an all-time high like I never imagined it ever would. Furthermore, when you hover over the pricing information for any watch on Audemars Piguet’s website, you get the following disclaimer: “Non-binding recommended public price in the USA”. This literally means that AP is not obligated to sell you any watch at the price that appears on their website and potentially establish the ‘sale price’ according to the basic laws of supply and demand.
Experience: Merry Christmas with Audemars Piguet's Tree Ornaments
Since most people outside of the U.S. in Europe, Asia and Latin America celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve and we happen to also do the same, we have decided to prepare a small collection of Christmas inspired images for today. This beautiful Audemars Piguet tree ornaments along with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin ref. 15202OR will for sure wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas.
From the Editor: Gérald Genta's Very Own Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402 and Original Drawings Up For Sale
The grail of all Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbos ever produced is for sure Gerald Genta’s very own Royal Oak. A very unique stainless steel AP Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402ST fitted with a yellow gold bezel never intended to become a two-tone Royal Oak. Since Genta was a genius, wearing such a unique-looking watch was yet another proof of his character and incredible personality, and way of thinking.
From the Editor: My Visit to The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus
Almost a month ago while I was in Geneva attending the GPHG, I finally visited the new Audemars Piguet museum ‘Musée Atelier’. After many visits to Le Brassus and the ‘old Audemars Piguet Museum’, every trip to Le Brassus has its touch of magic and a special charm that is sometimes hard for me to describe. Back in 2013, right after I had just launched WCL, I visited the AP Museum for the very first time. A year later, Audemars Piguet decided to expand the original museum and the idea to create the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet was born.
News: Audemars Piguet Builds Two New Modular Buildings. Manufacture des Saignoles in Le Locle and The Arc Project in Le Brassus.
Audemars Piguet invests in the future with two contemporary and modular production sites able to adapt to the company’s evolving needs. While the Manufacture des Saignoles recently welcomed its employees in Le Locle after three years of construction work, Audemars Piguet just laid the first stone of its new building, named the “Arc”, adjacent to the Manufacture des Forges in Le Brassus.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Gemset
Audemars Piguet presents a small series of six new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon models in white or pink gold glittering with an array of graded colored gemstones and diamonds, each offering unexpected and variegated plays of light. Haute Horlogerie meets Haute Joaillerie in these complex timepieces blending traditional techniques with avant-garde design. With their unique characters and surprising contrasts, these multifaceted pieces will be true statements when worn on the wrist.
From the Editor: What Made the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo so Iconic? About to Turn 50 Years Old.
Today, we are on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the AP Royal Oak and I couldn’t think of a better time to talk about this watch and what made it so iconic. When the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo was launched on April 15th, 1972, AP decided to be as bold with the marketing strategy to present the watch as they were by hiring genius designer Gérald Charles Genta to design a luxury watch that would be an all-around watch and that would break all the rules in watchmaking.
