Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 5402

Audemars Piguet 'A-series Jumbo' Royal Oak, Ref. 5402 Stainless steel wristwatch with date and bracelet Circa 1973

Audemars Piguet 'A-series Jumbo' Royal Oak, Ref. 5402 Stainless steel wristwatch with date and bracelet Circa 1973 Dial: anthracite tapisserie Calibre: cal. 2121/1 automatic, 36 jewels Movement number: 146'440 Case: stainless steel, back secured by 8 screws Case number: A 1739, 80'739 Closure: stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet and folding clasp Dimensions: 39 mm, bracelet circumference approx. 180 mm Signed: case, dial and movement Box: no Papers: no Accessories: Audemars Piguet travel pouch Developed during the quartz crisis which strongly hit the Swiss watch industry in the late 1960s and beginning of the 1970s, the Royal Oak revolutionised the industry and created a new category: 'stainless steel sports watches'. The novelty, designed by Gérald Genta, coincided with the tendency for less ostentatious watches as the focus had shifted towards understatement and quality. The Royal Oak was an all-purpose watch that was the perfect fit for different occasions, ranging from daily use to formal occasions.