Audemars Piguet Royal Oak price history

The Swiss watch brand Audemars Piguet, founded in 1875, is known worldwide for its high-end luxury watches, which are highly sought after by collectors and investors as an investment. The most well-known model and at the same time the absolute classic is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak wristwatch. In this article, we examine the value development of this luxury watch and venture a look at how the prices for the models could develop in the future.

Important information about the Royal Oak

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection includes a total of 108 different models, which differ in terms of the materials used and their complications. The watches are available with a chronograph, perpetual calendar, second time zone or minute repeater, for example, which makes the expensive timepieces highly functional.

Royal Oak watches were originally made of stainless steel, but nowadays they have a case made of white gold, platinum, tantalum, yellow gold or rose gold. The strap is often made of the same material, but there are also pieces with textile straps and straps made of high-quality leather.

Visually, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak series, designed by Gérald Genta, with its diverse models, is likely to appeal primarily to watch lovers who are committed to luxury watches of a sporty type. The octagonal bezel is characteristic and is attached using eye-catching hexagon screws. The bracelet is seamlessly integrated into the case, with the dial being the main attraction for connoisseurs. The bezel is decorated with an elaborate tapestry look, which undoubtedly has the best effect when combined with the screws.

The case sizes of the Royal Oak watches range from 33 mm to 44 mm in diameter. There are also big differences in this respect, which means that every watch fan can find a Royal Oak to suit their taste. Depending on the model, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak has a few extras in its design - for example, diamonds incorporated into the dial.

Let's get to the heart of the matter: Which movement is ticking at the heart of the Royal Oak? Older models are powered by a Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 920, newer ones are equipped with movements from the Audemars Piguet manufacture. The manufacture caliber 3120 is particularly popular, as it provides the wearer with a seconds display.

The history of the Royal Oak is also interesting. Legend has it that Georges Golay, then head of the company, was asked by an Italian businessman in 1972 to make a stainless steel watch for him. This watch was to be stylishly suited to sporty looks, but also to be worn with a suit. Now, it should not be forgotten that the watch industry was in the middle of a "quartz crisis" at the time. Bringing a series of watches made of pure stainless steel onto the market therefore entailed a certain risk. But Golay - together with chief designer Gérald Genta - took the step and did not regret it. The steel Royal Oak was publicly perceived as a model of rebellion against prevailing conventions and quickly achieved the status of a real cult watch.

Royal Oak price development

Let's talk about the prices and their development over time. Just like with other luxury watches - such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus or models from Omega, Vacheron Constantin and Rolex - the price development of the Royal Oak is one of the key reasons why buyers buy luxury watches as an investment.

Current price

First of all, it should be said that prices naturally vary from model to model. How much an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch costs depends on current demand on the secondary market, but also on the materials used, the reference, the complications and the condition of the timepiece. As an example, we take a closer look at the Jumbo Extra Thin with the reference 15202ST.OO.1240ST.01, which can be recognized by its blue dial. The list price for the watch is around €30,000, but the market price is at a much higher level. On the open market, luxury watches of this type are currently offered for just under €90,000. A price that you have to be prepared to pay for such a Royal Oak, because the chances of being able to purchase the brand's model directly from the manufacturer are practically zero.

Historical increase in value

If you look at the price development of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with the reference 15202ST.OO.1240ST.01, you can confidently speak of an almost unbelievable increase in value. During the Corona pandemic in particular, a huge price increase was recorded, during which the price of the Jumbo Extra Thin watches first doubled and then even tripled. Of course, several factors contribute to this increase in value. On the one hand, the number of models reproduced is very limited and significantly falls short of demand, and on the other hand, there is currently a real hype surrounding high-end watches made of steel. And the brand's announcement that it will soon stop producing the Royal Oak Ref 15202ST is also likely to have fueled the run on the iconic timepieces.

price development in the coming years

It is logically difficult to predict precisely - and certainly not with any certainty - how the prices for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches will develop in the future. However, taking into account the recent price increase and the ongoing, still increasing popularity of the timepieces, which extends far beyond the Ref 15202ST, a further increase in prices cannot be ruled out. Quite the opposite: if you take the most important criteria for a price increase together, you come to the conclusion that the future could hold another price jump upwards for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak series.

How much does a used Audemars Piguet Royal Oak cost?

On the secondary market, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches in various versions are traded well above list price. If you want to buy such a luxury watch in a reasonable condition, you have to spend a lot of money. Because: The classic models in particular, which are close to the original Genta design, achieve prices between €60,000 and €100,000 even when used.

The price development of other Audemars Piguet series

If you want to invest in a quality Audemars Piguet watch but are not set on a Royal Oak, you should definitely find out about exciting alternatives. After all, other Audemars Piguet series are also quite impressive in terms of price development.

How about, for example, a popular vintage watch that exudes timeless elegance? The Classic Ultra Thin is hard to beat in terms of elegant simplicity and is more in demand today than ever before. And the timepieces from the Jules Audemars series, which are intended as a tribute to one of the two founders of the company, are also very popular. If you would rather go for newer models instead, it makes sense to look at the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watches. These can be seen as a modern interpretation of the classic Royal Oak models and have already made a name for themselves under the nickname "The Beast".

Conclusion on Audemars Piguet price development

When talking about historic, renowned watch manufacturers, Audemars Piguet must be mentioned - alongside major names such as Omega, Rolex and Patek Philippe. In recent years, numerous watches from Audemars Piguet have seen huge price increases and there is no reason to expect a price crash in the coming years. This is especially true for the models from the legendary Royal Oak series, which are untouched icons in the eyes of many collectors.