Audemars Piguet

Introduced in 1972, the Audemars Piguet reference 5402 stands as a true masterpiece. Affectionately dubbed the “Jumbo”, its 39 mm case size was considered monumental compared to the era's more petite dress watches. Crafted by Gerald Genta, the case design broke new ground, featuring an octagonal bezel secured by eight visible, hexagonal, white gold screws, reminiscent of a deep-sea diving helmet. Even more impressive is that the legendary caliber 2121 was once the thinnest automatic movement with a central rotor and date function, making the watch sit comfortably on the wrist.

While most enthusiasts are familiar with the A, B, C, or D series of this reference, there exists a lesser-known variant. Positioned between the A and B series, Audemars Piguet produced a brief series of 5402 Royal Oaks without engraved serial numbers on the case back. Scholars suggest that these ‘non-series’ Royal Oaks were exclusively manufactured from 1975 to 1976, making them the rarest execution of the iconic reference 5402. It's believed that as few as 100 transitional 5402s were crafted, making the discovery of an example like the present lot exceptionally rare and highly coveted among collectors.