Audemars Piguet
'A-series Jumbo' Royal Oak, Ref. 5402 Stainless steel wristwatch with date and bracelet Circa 1973 | 愛彼 | 5402型號「'A-series Jumbo' Royal Oak」精鋼鍊帶腕錶備日期顯示，年份約1973
Auction Closed
May 10, 11:59 AM GMT
Estimate
70,000 - 90,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Audemars Piguet
'A-series Jumbo' Royal Oak, Ref. 5402
Stainless steel wristwatch with date and bracelet
Circa 1973
愛彼
5402型號「'A-series Jumbo' Royal Oak」精鋼鍊帶腕錶備日期顯示，年份約1973
Dial: tropical black tapisserie
Calibre: cal. 2121/1 automatic, 36 jewels
Movement number: 142'655
Case: stainless steel, back secured by 8 screws
Case number: A1'158, 80'158
Closure: stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet and folding clasp
Dimensions: 39 mm, bracelet circumference approx. 180 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: no
Accessories: Audemars Piguet Certificate of Origin, numbered hang tag and presentation case
Developed during the quartz crisis which strongly hit the Swiss watch industry in the late 1960s and beginning of the 1970s, the Royal Oak revolutionized 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. Inspired, perhaps erroneously, by the look of a diving-suit helmet, the monobloc case along with the octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet, create an aesthetically appealing design that makes this watch such an emblematic model which is sought after by collectors everywhere.
The reference 5402 can be divided into four series, distinguished by the letters A, B, C and D in front of the case numbers and, not surprisingly, the 'A-Series' is the most sought-after by collectors.
The present example has the case number A1158 engraved on the back