Royal Oak

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is the most important watch of the 20th century. When Gérald Genta designed it overnight in 1972 — a stainless steel sports watch priced higher than most gold watches of the era — it shocked the industry and redefined luxury. Its eight-sided bezel with exposed screws, integrated bracelet with alternating brushed and polished surfaces, and Grande Tapisserie dial became an instant design language. Five decades later, those elements remain unchanged in their essentials, which is either a testament to Genta's genius or the ultimate example of a design that cannot be improved upon. The current Royal Oak lineup includes the 41mm Reference 15500ST (Calibre 4302, in-house automatic, 70-hour power reserve), the 39mm 'Jumbo' 15202 (Calibre 2121, ultra-thin, 40-hour power reserve), and the 37mm 15550 for smaller wrists. The 15202 'Jumbo' — closest in spirit to the original 1972 model — is arguably the most coveted of all Royal Oak references. AP produces approximately 50,000 pieces per year total across all models, making any Royal Oak genuinely scarce. Pre-owned examples regularly trade at or above retail for desirable references.