2023 New Luxury Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Are Exceptional
The popularity of quartz watches in the early 1970s prompted a rethink among traditional Swiss watchmakers. Quartz watches were perceived as a threat because they were cheaper and could keep accurate time. Realizing that the market at the time was adopting a more active lifestyle, an Audemars Piguet executive asked Gérald Genta to design a luxury sports watch made of stainless steel, waterproof and innovative.
Using steel as a case material for Swiss luxury replica watches was unconventional at the time. Named after the Royal Navy ship and the oak tree that saved King Charles II of England in battle, the Royal Oak was destined to make stainless steel the material of choice for luxury sports watches because it was not only tough but also had all the mechanical characteristics that had characterized Swiss watches for generations. The Royal Oak was met with a lukewarm reception when it was first introduced. Its price was higher than comparable Patek Philippe watches and Rolex Submariner. It took three years for the market to warm up to this unique design before sales took off.
One of the current Royal Oak collections that is faithful to the original design is the Royal Oak Automatic Ref #15500ST.OO.1220ST.02. The 41mm stainless steel case, the classic “Grand Tapisserie” dial motif, and the descending strap link make this watch one of the closest representations of the original piece. Powering it is the 4302 self-winding movement with 257 parts and 32 jewels, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offering outstanding precision despite being only 4.9 mm thick.
The revolutionary design does not end its first list. While watchmakers such as Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Omega offer luxury sports copy watches, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak can always claim to be number one. Its unabashedly futuristic approach to design has been its hallmark for many years. Starting with the caliber 2120/2800, its internal architecture set the stage for the key technical breakthroughs in mechanical precision for which Audemars Piguet has become famous. The Royal Oak Concept pushes Audemars Piguet to the limits of haute horlogerie by experimenting with cutting-edge materials used in the aerospace industry as well as innovative and resilient alloys used in micromechanics.
The skeletonized self-winding Royal Oak Concept Ref # 26587TI.OO.D010CA.01 is the first self-winding movement in the Royal Oak Concept collection. It features a groundbreaking case aesthetic that maintains the Royal Oak tradition. Its ingeniously designed chronograph mechanism is unmistakably visible with its platinum oscillating weight, highly refined tourbillon and hand-polished movement. Its precise interior is powered by the 391-part, 34-jewel Caliber 2949, beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour.
