Next year will be the 50th anniversary of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak.
As if the brand needed any additional momentum for its signature timepiece, it is certain the world will be watching agog in anticipation of what it creates to mark such a milestone for the Gérald Genta masterpiece.
As is the way with the watch industry, there are spin-off benefits for other players.
Antiquorum, for example, is revving up for the anniversary by highlighting three Royal Oak timepieces that are on the block at its Monaco auction on July 21.
Antiquorum CEO Romain Réa even points out that the Royal Oak has a connection to Monaco, sharing that the watch’s designer Mr Genta lived in Monaco for a number of years and his wife, Evelyne, was the UK Ambassador to the principality.
“Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak is one of the best success stories in contemporary design, and we are so proud to present for our Monaco auction three special and very rare Royal Oak models, especially in anticipation of its 50th anniversary in 2022 for the Gerald Genta design,” Mr Réa adds.
Two rare Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars in great condition will go under the hammer, as well as an as-new steel Royal Oak with black tapisserie dial from 1976.
Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar
The two Perpetual Calendar watches come in yellow gold with a pre-sale estimate of €80,000 to €150,000 and an even more desirable steel model with a black dial with an estimate of €100,000 to €200,000.
The final Royal Oak of the trio is a steel reference with black tapisserie dial and is described as particularly rare because it was produced as part of an “unmarked” series.
While the original Royal Oak was produced in series A, B, C and so on, this model (numbered 344) appears to have been created in-between series A and B in 1976 and corresponds to the 1972 design by Gerald Genta.
It has a pre-sale estimate of €80,000 to €150,000 and is sold with box and papers.