Audemars Piguet Royal Oak has a long history, defined by its very unique case design, the caliber 3135, and its association with the worlds of motorsports and timekeeping at the highest level. Of course, like a vintage watch collector, none of these are qualities that I truly care about.
I am concerned with getting my hands on the most interesting and earliest examples of the reference.
The story is quite a long one and one that many people don’t know. But it is a very interesting one, that is why we decided to write about it on our blog. Edward Auguste Piguet created this brand.
Piguet lived there for most of his life and worked as a watchmaker for most of it. It was there that he met Jules Louis Audemars, who had also been born in Le Brassus. Audemars, born in 1851, was a childhood friend of Piguet’s.
The two reconnected in the early 1870s. They were both working at other watch companies, though they were still living in Le Brassus. They found that they were both watchmakers working to create mechanical timepieces.
They decided to join forces and create the brand we know today as Audemars Piguet.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches have a reputation as some of the most innovative and stylish looks in luxury watches. The Royal Oak has been around since 1972 and has since driven the watch industry with a mission to provide us with the most stunning and innovative designs.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is revolutionary because the design elements are incorporated into the case and the dial, not done on any other watch.
It may be some of the most popular, but one particular model has stood the test of time and is still one of the most favorite Royal Oak watches, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak A2.
The Royal Oak was never intended to be a watch for people who wanted to be noticed. It was a watch for people who wanted to blend in. And while the vast majority of the watches were meant to be worn by men, women began to purchase them as well, wearing them with pantsuits to the office or with jeans when they went out with friends.
Every detail was designed for comfort, from the smooth bracelet to the rounded, symmetrical case. The watch is all about smooth lines, even more so than the Patek Philippe Calatrava or the Rolex Daytona, its primary competitors.
Eye-Catching Design
For over 30 years, The Story Behind Audemars has been making the iconic Royal Oak watch. The brand’s signature octagonal bezel has been a key element of the watch’s design, allowing the watch to be worn for all occasions.
Gérald Genta designed the Royal Oak in 1972 for the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari. The watch was created for the Italian car company’s president, Enzo Ferrari.
The watch was originally made available in yellow gold, steel, or two-tone. The watch’s name derives from the name of the forest where the brand’s headquarters are located: Le Brassus in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland.
The forest is called Les Bois de Boulogne, and Royal Oak is a nod to the Chêne Royal (“Royal Oak”). The Royal Oak was the first of a long line of watches Audemars Piguet made with unique octagonal bezels. The first Royal Oak used a very similar dial to the dial of the Royal Oak Offshore.
The Story Behind Audemars case has a steel bracelet and is water-resistant to 30 meters. The dial is available in the “classic” and the “grande tapisserie.” The “classic” dial has a tapisserie pattern (a type of guilloche) that is seen through a sapphire crystal and is known by watch enthusiasts as the “Grande Tapisserie.” The “grande tapisserie” variation has a solid silver dial available only in the limited Jumbo and Grande Complication models.
Later the watch was also introduced in steel and rose gold. The dials have a distinctive three-dimensional aspect, with raised lozenge-shaped markers, and the Royal Oak is recognizable for its large and unique crown.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication was created to celebrate the brand’s 150 anniversary. Although it is a limited edition, only 150 have been made, and they sell for $149,000. Of course, the brand is also famous for creating the Royal Oak watch, which is their signature watch and has a cult following with collectors.
The Story Behind Royal Oak A2 is truly a stunning timepiece that combines elegance, superior craftsmanship, and technical innovation, which is why it has become the most iconic watch in Audemars Piguet’s history. We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about this beautiful timepiece!