AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK JUMBO

A magnific Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo for collector

Reference: 5402BA
Model: Royal Oak Jumbo
Movement: Automatic
Calibre: Automatic, cal. 2121, 36 jewels
Material: 18k Yellow gold
Dial: Grey tapisserie, indexes and hands in yellow gold
Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet bracelet
Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold AP deployant clasp
Diameter: 39 mm
Circa: 1990
Accessories: Original Certificate, manual instructions, certificate of authenticity, Original box.
Condition: The watch has been kept in our safe from purchase on automatic watch winder.

ID SWT: 77026079

Notes: The story of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is that of what legends are made of.

In the late 60s/early 70s Audemars Piguet, like many other traditional Swiss manufactures, was facing the crisis brought on by the arrival to the market of cheap quartz timepieces and they were looking for a way to surprise the market with a game changing timepiece.

Legend has it that in April 1971, Georges Golay, Audemars Piguet’s Managing Director, contacted Gerald Genta requesting a steel watch fit for all occasions, the likes of which had never seen before and the design needed to be submitted….the following morning.

The next morning Genta showed him the design of a watch that would not only save Audemars Piguet but change the face of watchmaking. The Royal Oak was born and launched a year later at Basel Fair 1972 before the incredulous faces of the industry.

The rest as they say is history.

Genta later admitted that he had got the idea of the octagonal dial with visible screws after watching a documentary about commercial diving where they used an octagonal piece to attach the helmet to the dive suit.

When launched the Royal Oak ref 5402 in steel cost more than any gold watch on Audemars Piguet’s catalogue. However, in 1977 the brand decided to up the ante by offering a new Royal Oak reference 5402 lavishly clad in yellow gold once again changing the game by offering a luxury leisure watch in a precious metal.

Ref 5402 in yellow gold are rare and few appear on the auction market and when one does it offers a unique opportunity that should not be missed.