Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Series A Year 1972 Very First Royal Oak Series Serial Number A 386 The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is an icon. It is the original luxury sports watch that created and defined the category. Introduced at BaselWorld in 1972 after being designed by Gérald Genta, it turned the Swiss industry upside down and changed the fortunes of Audemars Piguet.
The origin of the species is the Royal Oak reference 5402ST - nicknamed the “Jumbo”. It is no surprise that the A series examples are hotly hunted and desired by collectors around the world. Only a few seem to get to market each year - at most. But to have a chance at one of the first 490 made in 1972 ? That is close to impossible. The last one for sale from the first Series A of 1972 was the serial number A2. It sold for 1,058,000 CHF in May 2022 (close to 1'200'000 US$).
The watch should fit a wrist up slightly over 7 inches and features the original flip “Audemars Piguet” flip clasp (often replaced with the AP flip clasp) with the Gay Freres “GF” logo and 1 / 72 date code indicating it was made in the first quarter of 1972.
The watch is registered under the seller's name at Audemars Piguet. The dial has the AP logo at the position of noon. It was the ever very first such dial, by customer request.
