Royal Oak Rectangle-Shaped

Founded in 1875 by Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet in Le Brassus, Switzerland, Audemars Piguet has grown into one of the most coveted and respected high-end watchmakers over the last century and a half. While Audemars Piguet made a name for itself by mastering watch complications such as the perpetual calendar, today, it is the sporty Royal Oak watch that serves as Audemars Piguet’s flagship watch.

The brainchild of famed watch designer Gerald Genta, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak made its debut in 1972. The Royal Oak was unlike any watch ever created, characterized by an oversized case, an octagonal bezel, an integrated bracelet, and a hobnail patterned “tapisserie” dial. More importantly, however, was the audacity of the first Royal Oak’s price, which was more expensive than gold watches and complicated timepieces, even though the Royal Oak was crafted in utilitarian steel and offered a straightforward time and date dial. The Royal Oak not only became Audemars Piguet’s most important creation, with endless variations offered, but it also established an entirely new genre of watches known as the luxury sports watch. 

In addition to the Royal Oak, other notable Audemars Piguet watches include Royal Oak Offshore, Code 11.59, Millenary, Jules Audemars, and [Re]Master from the current collection, along with vintage models such as the art deco Canapé models, the dressy Ultra-Thin timepieces, and the impressive assortment of traditional high-complication watches.