The company Audemars Piguet was registered in 1882.
Founded by Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet, these two young men built a reputation as innovators of watchmaking when they unveiled the world's first minute repeater movement in a wristwatch in 1892.
Today the brand Audemars Piguet is still in the hands of its founding families and the brand has many impressive and collectible models in its portfolio.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak model is an instantly recognisable wristwatch, an impressive bold piece of jewellery which combines uncompromising quality of construction with innovative design.
This timepiece has become an icon and although almost 40 years since the first model was created it continues to be the focus for the Audemars Piguet brand.
Launched in Basel in 1972, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak captured the attention and imagination of the watchmaking world.
The first prestige sports watch to be crafted in stainless steel, the impressive design was the work of the watch designer Gerald Genta who went on to found his own luxury watch brand in the 1990's.
Featuring a self-winding mechanical movement with calendar function, many critics at the time viewed this watch as a lowly creation, stainless steel was by no means considered an exotic metal and the model was "plain" considering some of the horological complex complications of the time.
However this skepticism was short lived when sales exceeded the forecast of the manufacture.
The historical term "Royal Oak" comes from the hollowed tree in which King Charles II of England took refuge from his pursuers following the Battle of Worcester in 1651, but the name also became synonymous with the Royal Navy when a series of battle ships were named HMS Royal Oak.
One of these ships, the first armoured British warship had a unique construction - it had octagonal portholes with the exterior frames being secured with bolts visible from the outside.
And so taking not only the name but also inspiration from its very construction, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak had a unique design, the now instantly recognisable octagonal bezel with eight visible screws going right through it.
To complete the impression of a bold, sporty piece the bracelet was integrated, yet this contrasted with the classic almost delicate detailing of the exquisite guilloche dial.
These features made for a distinctive but difficult to construct finished form.
The Royal Oak is by no means a modest timepiece - the wearer or on-looker will be in no doubt that this is an Audemars Piguet watch.
Like so many modern day signature pieces this watch has gone far and beyond its marque and transcends the need for a logo or an introduction.
Founded by Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet, these two young men built a reputation as innovators of watchmaking when they unveiled the world's first minute repeater movement in a wristwatch in 1892.
Today the brand Audemars Piguet is still in the hands of its founding families and the brand has many impressive and collectible models in its portfolio.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak model is an instantly recognisable wristwatch, an impressive bold piece of jewellery which combines uncompromising quality of construction with innovative design.
This timepiece has become an icon and although almost 40 years since the first model was created it continues to be the focus for the Audemars Piguet brand.
Launched in Basel in 1972, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak captured the attention and imagination of the watchmaking world.
The first prestige sports watch to be crafted in stainless steel, the impressive design was the work of the watch designer Gerald Genta who went on to found his own luxury watch brand in the 1990's.
Featuring a self-winding mechanical movement with calendar function, many critics at the time viewed this watch as a lowly creation, stainless steel was by no means considered an exotic metal and the model was "plain" considering some of the horological complex complications of the time.
However this skepticism was short lived when sales exceeded the forecast of the manufacture.
The historical term "Royal Oak" comes from the hollowed tree in which King Charles II of England took refuge from his pursuers following the Battle of Worcester in 1651, but the name also became synonymous with the Royal Navy when a series of battle ships were named HMS Royal Oak.
One of these ships, the first armoured British warship had a unique construction - it had octagonal portholes with the exterior frames being secured with bolts visible from the outside.
And so taking not only the name but also inspiration from its very construction, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak had a unique design, the now instantly recognisable octagonal bezel with eight visible screws going right through it.
To complete the impression of a bold, sporty piece the bracelet was integrated, yet this contrasted with the classic almost delicate detailing of the exquisite guilloche dial.
These features made for a distinctive but difficult to construct finished form.
The Royal Oak is by no means a modest timepiece - the wearer or on-looker will be in no doubt that this is an Audemars Piguet watch.
Like so many modern day signature pieces this watch has gone far and beyond its marque and transcends the need for a logo or an introduction.