1972 saw the birth of the Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet
Designer Gérald Genta developed this automatic watch, which caused a sensation on the market at the time. The octagonal watch made of stainless steel - instead of gold - was extremely flat and stood out due to its unusual mix of satin and polished surfaces. Critics gave the watch little chance, especially since it was priced in the high-end segment. But the Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet was convincing across the board. Over the years, the waterproof sports watch developed into a real classic that not only inspired prominent brand ambassadors. The company has now cultivated its "flagship" for almost four decades and has consistently developed it further. Today, the Royal Oak collection includes models from puristic automatic watches to ultra-sporty chronographs made of carbon.
Lionel Messi is representative of Audemars Piguet
For his title as top scorer in the Spanish league, the record-breaking football player received a Royal Oak as a gift from Audemars Piguet. Since then, he has been an avowed lover of these luxury watches and a brand ambassador for the company. To honor his success, Audemars Piguet developed the Royal Oak Lionel Messi Special Edition. For this, some of the characteristic features of the classic have been changed. The case of this Royal Oak is two millimeters wider, the dial is made of tantalum and crocodile leather has been used instead of a stainless steel strap.
Luxury watches for water sports, outdoor, business and leisure
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Automatic and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph are eye-catchers among luxury timepieces with their design. While the Royal Oak was still a rarity in its steel version at the time, it quickly convinced people that it had what it takes to be a real classic, unlike many gold watches. Audemars Piguet's success proves it right. The octagonal bezel, which is held to the case with distinctive screws, is striking. The dial has a fine waffle pattern and the rod-shaped indices match the respective case color perfectly. There is a date window at three o'clock. The Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet is available today in several versions. From the classic made of steel to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar and the Royal Oak Tourbillon variant. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon, however, is already in the top price league. It is surpassed by the Royal Oak Grande Complication, the exclusive model for the upper class. The Royal Oak watches from Audemars Piguet are available with a strap in metal, crocodile leather or rubber and have been delighting self-confessed watch lovers for many years.