Audemars Piguet

• cal. 2121 automatic lever movement, 36 jewels • anthracite tapisserie dial, applied luminescent baton indexes, aperture for date, outer minute divisions, luminescent hands • stainless steel Royal Oak case, bezel and back secured by 8 screws • case, dial and movement signed • with a stainless steel Royal Oak bracelet and folding clasp

The movement is in working condition at the time of cataloguing. The dial and hands are in great condition. The case and bracelet have very visible scuffs, scratches and small dents throughout, which is consistent with regular wear and the age of the watch. The watch has not been tested to determine the accuracy of its timekeeping. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement and that a service may be required at the buyer's discretion.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Accompanied by an Audemars Piguet 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 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. The focus had shifted towards understatement and quality and the Royal Oak was an all-purpose watch which was the perfect fit for different occasions ranging from daily use, but also for formal dinners or evenings.   Inspired by the look of a diving-suit helmet, the monoblock case construction, the octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal white gold screws and the integrated bracelet form the aesthetically appealing design DNA of this emblematic model.

This A-Series Royal Oak, numbered A1471, features the ‘tapisserie’ guilloché motif dial, enhancing the beauty of the avant-garde design. According to our research the movement has been exchanged by Audemars Piguet in 1991.