Audemars Piguet

The present Royal Oak is cased in a rare material known as tantalum, a blue-grey metal with strengthened durability which matches perfectly the pink gold bezel and links. Audemars Piguet started using this special metal in their production in 1988, both for Royal Oak cases and bracelets. Difficult to work with, other brands quickly ceased using this material while Audemars Piguet went on to produce different Royal Oak models with various combinations such as pink gold and tantalum, yellow gold and tantalum, as well as tantalum and stainless steel. Tantalum has proven to be a suitable alternative for people with allergies to steel, does not change its color over time and also has a high resistance to acids. Due to its rather high density it also gives the watch a certain heft, similar to a full gold piece. 

The present lot was sold in 2004 at the Swiss ski resort Samnaun, just over ten years after its production. Not the most popular models at the time, they have gained interest and became more collectible over time, as the production numbers were kept rather low and it is estimated that only between 500 to 1’000 examples of this reference were produced. Offered from the family of the original owner, the present lot is accompanied by its Certificate of Origin, instruction manual and pouch.