Pre-Owned
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watches
The original 1972 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was designed by Gérald Genta as a last-chance effort to pull Audemars Piguet out from the Great Depression. Despite initial uncertainty, it was a great success, the octagonal porthole-based design and integrated bracelet winning many admirers and enduring to today.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watches
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak embodies the brand's allegiance to excellence and innovation in the realm of horology. With its emblematic design and superior artistry, this iconic timepiece has become a totem of opulence and distinction.
The Royal Oak’s story began in 1970 when the renowned designer Gerald Genta was asked by Georges Golay, the managing director of Audemars Piguet, to design a waterproof steel sports watch. At the time, the brand was facing an uncertain future due to the advent of quartz-powered watches, and it needed to come up with something special to win over its dwindling customers.
Genta, taking inspiration from a ship’s porthole, came up with a watch that featured an octagonal bezel bearing eight screws. Adding to the distinctive looks was a robust-looking integrated bracelet, which perfectly complemented the case, plus the now-signature tapisserie-pattern dial for added contrast and texture. The watch was an instant success and has been a mainstay in the Audemars Piguet catalogue ever since, becoming a status symbol for the affluent.
As for the name of the watch, Royal Oak was the name of three famous British naval warships, which in turn were named after a huge oak tree in which King Charles II of England had once hidden to avoid capture from Oliver Cromwell’s troops.
Genta’s creation turned out to be one of the most influential watches of all time, inventing an entirely new genre of watch—luxury steel sports—and inspiring dozens of similar models, some of which were designed by Gerald Genta himself, such as Patek Philippe’s Nautilus.
Over time, the Royal Oak has experienced several transformations and advancements, adapting to the demands of discerning watch enthusiasts. As well as varying dial colours and materials, it has featured a range of complications, from chronographs to perpetual calendars, as well as tourbillons.
A pivotal point in the Royal Oak's timeline was the introduction of the Royal Oak Offshore collection in 1993. This larger, more sturdy version appealed to a younger demographic, fortifying the watch's status as a contemporary icon. This eventually led to the brand’s pop-culture watch collaborations with musicians like Jay-Z and Mark Ronson, as well as Marvel superheroes like Spiderman.
In 2002, to celebrate the Royal Oak’s thirtieth anniversary, the first Royal Oak Concept watch was introduced. These futuristic-looking, limited-edition timepieces encompass the brand’s latest innovations and feature cutting-edge materials and high-tech complications such as minute repeaters whose sound has been perfected at the brand’s state-of-the-art sonnerie department.
Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the industry and encouraged numerous watchmakers to challenge traditional watchmaking norms, transforming the market.
Today, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak continues to be a coveted timepiece, desired by watch aficionados and collectors alike. Its ageless design and outstanding craftsmanship render it a symbol of luxury and refinement. At Watchfinder you can find a range of pre-owned Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches to suit all tastes, from classic vintage models to the latest versions in precious metal, ceramic or titanium.