There are a number of words and phrases that would come to mind whenever I thought about finding one of my all-time grails, the titanium Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 25854TI.OO.1150TI.01. A range of adjectives describing this watch that go all the way from understated luxury to ultra cool sportiness, a Neo-vintage watch grail, pure watch badassery for those that really know, the ultimate FU watch, but most definitely, the words that would always come to mind, would be: a grand complication by Audemars Piguet for those that want the sportiest look possible in a very understated way.
Posts filed under Audemars Piguet
From the Editor: Fourth Generation of Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad Quietly Reintroduced by AP after 9 Years of Discontinuation. In-Depth History and Explanation of this Iconic Watch.
The iconic and legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940 needs very little introduction and is for sure one of those watches that is worth explaining in-depth, especially since it marks the first use of rubber as a main component in the watch industry. The AP Rubberclad is a watch that we've seen on the wrists of dozen of celebrities and AP lovers and a watch that is living testament of the continued innovation that AP has brought to the watch industry since the launch of the Royal Oak in 1972. A few months ago, Audemars Piguet quietly reintroduced the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad under reference 26238OK.OO.A002CA.01.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel
One of our favorite complications is being brought back by Audemars Piguet to the Code 11.59 collection. The new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel ref. 15212NB.OO.A002KB.01 revisits the tradition of wandering hours with a new ultra-contemporary timepiece that combines black ceramic with 18K white gold. Invented in 1655 thanks to a request by Pope Alexander VII, who suffered from insomnia that was exacerbated by the ticking of his clock, the wandering hours complication was rediscovered by Audemars Piguet in 1991.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT Green Ceramic
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT gets a green ceramic new look. With its asymmetric look and contemporary architecture, the first AP Royal Oak Concept was launched in 2002 as ref. 25980AI.OO.0003SU.01 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the launch of the iconic Royal Oak in a limited edition of 150 pieces. Then in 2011, AP launched the first Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon ref. 26560IO.OO.D002CA.01 which you can read about here.
Watch Goodies: 'Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon' Supersized Book by Assouline. The Most Epic Book of All Things Royal Oak.
The most incredible Royal Oak book we’ve ever seen, sits at the AP House in New York City. Published by Assouline, the book named ‘Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon’ was produced in collaboration with Audemars Piguet and written by Bill Prince, an award-winning journalist and an expert on luxury, culture, men’s style and watches.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono Black Ceramic 50th Anniversary ref. 26240CE
Today, silently without any press release, Audemars Piguet adds up a black full ceramic Royal Oak Chrono ref. 26240CE.OO.1225CE.01. This all-black 41 mm Royal Oak Chronograph fully crafted in black ceramic and contrasted with subtle pink gold accents is endowed with the collection’s latest design evolution and “50-year” anniversary oscillating weight.
From the Editor: Here's Why I am Done Buying Any More Watches. Most Likely Forever.
It’s been a while since I started doing my own introspection about watch collecting and with the current state of the industry, I have finally reached a point where I get very little pleasure out of buying a new watch, whatever that ends up being. I’ve been collecting watches for the last 32 years and I’ve owned almost everything that I never even imagined I would own one day.
Experience: Macán Rothschild Vega Sicilia. An Understated Wine Like a Platinum Offshore.
Much like watches, some amazing wines are not necessarily those that everyone knows and only those that really know will recognize certain names, just like they’ll point out watch references or the metal composition of certain particular timepieces. When it comes to the AP Royal Oak Offshore 44 in platinum, only if you really know, you’ll be able to call out its platinum nature and the same happens with the Macán wine by Vega Sicilia.
Watch Goodies: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Wall Clock. The Ultimate Objet d'Art.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Wall Clock is the ultimate watch goody and one of the most coveted clocks out there. Released by AP as a super-sized version of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574 in stainless steel with a silvered dial, this amazing clock features a stainless steel case measuring 16 inches —40 centimeters— in diameter and 3.5 inches —8.9 centimeters— in thickness. This clock also features a very complex quartz mechanism that controls all the perpetual calendar indications as well as a secondary mechanism that controls the time-keeping function.
From the Editor: Here's Why I Dislike the New AP Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition Models
First let me say that you all know how much I love Audemars Piguet, the Royal Oak, the Royal Oak Offshore, and music, especially EDM. I’ve spent countless hours spotting watches on the wrists of famous DJs like Afrojack, Steve Angello, Avicci, Cedric Gervais, and Tiësto, and one thing they all had in common is their choice for an Audemars Piguet watch, mostly Royal Oak Offshores. However, I doubt that any of these DJs will be sporting the new Royal Oak Music Edition watches any time soon.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono 'City of Sails' Rose Gold
When you think of Audemars Piguet rare birds of course WCL is the premier destination to find that content you can’t find elsewhere. Since we typically feature the most sought-after APs and some of the rarest limited editions out there, why not talk about the Royal Oak Chronograph ‘City Of Sails’ in 18K rose gold ref. 25979OR.0.0002CA.01 released in a limited edition of 200 pieces.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Carolina Bucci Limited Edition. Black Ceramic Case with Rainbow Dial.
Audemars Piguet is proud to present a new limited edition 34 mm Royal Oak in black ceramic. This timepiece is the fruit of the latest collaboration between AP and Carolina Bucci. In celebration of the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary, the Italian jewelry designer has created a dial endowed with a unique multi-colored mirror effect paying tribute to the iconic Tapisserie design. The result is as unexpected as it is elegant. This limited edition is designed for both men and women and is available exclusively in Audemars Piguet boutiques and AP Houses.
Photo Report: Opening of the AP House New York & The Royal Oak 50th Anniversary Capsule Experience
Yesterday May 20, 2022, we were in NYC for the opening of the new AP House in the Meatpacking District. This is not only the first AP House to open in the United States, but it is also part of the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Oak. Making the Park Hyatt New York our home away from home was the first stop for an incredible Friday in the company of our friends at Audemars Piguet.
Breaking News: Gérald Genta's Personal Royal Oak Sells in Excess of $2.1 Million USD at Sotheby's
Today May 10th, 2022 Gérald Genta’s very own Royal Oak broke the record set by the Royal Oak ref. 5402 with case No. 2, that sold for CHF 1,058,500 —approx $1,060,000 USD— at the Phillips Royal Oak 50th Sale this past weekend . Genta’s very own Royal Oak ref. 5402ST, a C-series stainless steel watch with an 18K yellow gold bezel bearing case number 1556 hammered at CHF 2,107,000 Swiss Francs —approx $2,170,000 USD— at the Sotheby’s Important Watches Auction in Geneva.
From the Editor: Phillips Royal Oak 50th Sale Results. Here are the Top Lots and My Opinion.
Not sure what to think anymore about the watch market and the results of the watch auctions. I’ve been trying to understand what’s going on for several years now and the results from auctions are always very surprising but not necessary the best indicator of what’s going on. While I see trends after reviewing the results of the auctions, I also see some inconsistencies where is hard for me to understand why certain time/date watches would fetch more than Grand Complications.
From the Editor: The Phillips Royal Oak 50th Auction Taking Place Tomorrow. My Thoughts.
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.
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.
