The story behind this iconic timepiece is an interesting one. In the early seventies, the Swiss watch industry was at something of a crossroads. The watch market was being flooded by an array of cheaper quartz pieces, mainly from Japan. Expensive automatic Swiss pieces seemed to be losing their appeal.
In fact, the plight of the Audermars Piguet brand was particularly desperate. On the verge of bankruptcy, the company needed something to revitalise the brand. Remembering interest luxury steel that had been expressed by some Italians, watch designer Gerald Genta was. Tasked with creating a luxury sports timepiece with an exquisite finish, the result was the Royal Oak.
The rest, as they say, is history.
If there is such a thing as the definitive sports watch then the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is it. This is the prized piece to search for in the listings of used Audemars Piguet watches. The original design featured automatic Calibre 2121. It was inspired by a traditional diver’s helmet and the first design boasted an octagonal bezel, eight screws and the distinctive blue patterned dial.
The company fiercely retains its independence and is proud to have a number of celebrity A listers as long-standing clientele. Used Audermars Piguet pieces are not commonly found but when they are, they are a treasure to unearth.
