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. Hidden in the back past a couple of other displays showcasing some of the most iconic watches in the world, there it was, what I consider to be the most special Royal Oak out there.

Gerald Genta’s Royal Oak was a very unique stainless steel AP Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402ST fitted with a yellow gold bezel but that was never intended to become a two-tone Royal Oak. For those of you wondering, Genta’s very own Royal Oak is not an A-Series —as many would suspect— but a C-series. With case number C-1556, Genta’s own Royal Oak is a grail of all grails.

Finally, after almost fifty years since the launch of the Royal Oak in 1972, the Gérald Genta Heritage Association founded in 2018 by his wife and business partner, Evelyne Genta, will be offering for sale this incredible watch at the Important Watches, Sotheby’s Biannual Auction in Geneva next month. Most likely it will be purchased by Audemars Piguet for their museum. Now, let’s wait and see how much it sells for when the auction takes place. For sure it will break any record for any Audemars Piguet watch ever sold at auction.

Genta was a genius and his design not only changed the watch industry in 1972 but saved Audemars Piguet from going down. For him to wear such a unique-looking watch was yet another proof of his character, incredible personality, and way of thinking.

Long live my favorite watch! And for those of you wondering why I like it so much besides its iconic design and presence, it is because we share the same birth year and that makes it as special as it gets. Never forget it takes more than money to wear the Royal Oak.

For more info on the Gérald Genta Heritage Association click here and for Audemars Piguet here.