Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Owl' 25572SA Two-Tone
Released in 1972 and designed by Gerald Genta, watchmaking's most famous designer, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was the first stainless steel luxury sports watch ever to exist. Released as a tactic to survive the quartz crisis, the Royal Oak can single-handedly be thanked for AP's existence today due to its success, albeit it wasn't an overnight hit. Its sizeable tonneau-shaped case, signature integrated bracelet, octagonal bezel, exposed screws, and steel construction failed to win over collectors until a few years later. Today, the Royal Oak is one of the most highly-coveted timepieces in all horology as its previously dismissed design details have permeated across the industry and into watches like the Patek Philippe Nautilus, Vacheron Constantin Overseas, Rolex Oysterquartz, amongst many other legendary timepieces. Starting life as a brighter shade of silver, this example's dial has taken on a warmer and more subtle undertone that appears almost grey, providing a wonderful match to the example's two-tone construction. One of the integral parts of the Royal Oak's aesthetic, its stunning three-piece link bracelet is wonderfully complemented by a two-tone construction, with the large stainless steel links held together by two small 18k yellow gold links. This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
