The AP Royal Oak - A king of the auction market

Antiquorum celebrated 50 years of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak by recalling its long time history with the iconic watch designed by Gérald Genta and introduced in 1972. The Geneva auctioneer recorded nearly 1,000 Royal Oaks presented for sale since 1992, of which nearly eight out of ten were sold. This thirty year archive provides an interesting reference on the evolution of the model’s value. Here are a few examples (pictures courtesy of Antiquorum Genéve).

This Royal Oak Jumbo “A Series” (number 88) in stainless steel was produced in 1972. Equipped with its Gay Freres bracelet dated 1.72, it sold for CHF 40,000 in 2012.

Nine years later (July 2021), this stainless steel Royal Oak Jumbo dating back to 1976 sold for CHF 286,000.

The most expensive Royal Oak Jumbo in yellow gold was this “B Series” sold in November 2020 for CHF 150,000.

Produced in 1986, this was one of the first Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars in gold. Last January it sold for EUR 260’000.

In December 2021, this Perpetual Calendar in platinum and pink gold dating back to 1997 fetched CHF 178’000.

This stainless steel Perpetual Calendar produced in 1996 features an extremely unusual salmon dial. Sold in November 2021 for CHF 462’500.