From a 1988 Royal Oak in yellow gold to a 2015 limited edition chronograph made for the 17th Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, here's our selection of some incredible APs you won’t want to miss
The holiday season is knocking on the door, which brings friends, family and festivities together - and of course gifts. In this installment of 'Buyer's Guide', we explore various Audemars Piguet watches under USD 100K to help you select a very special gift for a loved one, or perhaps for yourself. While some Royal Oaks here may take you back in time, a few on the list proudly represent the watchmaker's contemporary design philosophy. The list includes the elegance of gold cases, the shimmer of a diamond dial and the energy of orange accents on a blue watch face, so let's explore:
Royal Oak Chronograph QE II Cup 2015
Ref. 26327TI.OO.D004CA.01
A watch made in collaboration with The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) for the 17th Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Cup, this limited edition chronograph comes packed in a 41mm titanium case. It instantly grabs your attention with its splendiferous silver-toned dial with the Grande Tapisserie pattern. The watch utilizes its gray ruthenium counters and subtle contrasts, not to mention the attractive subdials, which contribute to a dashing monochromatic look. When the two-tone gray dial come together with the case and the gray rubber strap, it results in a thoughtful design that is perhaps one of the most alluring compositions in the Royal Oak collection.
This Royal Oak, released in 2015, is limited to 200 pieces and features a caseback engraved with the legend 'QE II CUP 2015 Limited Edition'. Its tri-compax layout with the date window at 4.30 quickly reminds you of some Royal Oaks that were released at the beginning of 2022 to celebrate the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary. Its beautiful dial also shows white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. The case offers a water resistance of 50 meters, which houses a selfwinding engine - the Calibre 2385, making 21,600 vibrations per hour and delivering a power reserve of around 40 hours.
Asking price: USD 72,613
Available now on Wristcheck.
Royal Oak Chronograph
Ref. 26300ST.OO.1110ST.07
This is one of those Royal Oaks that offers all the design motifs, which make this collection irresistible - be it the integrated bracelet featuring the AP logo-style clasp design or its blue dial with the Royal Oak's signature Grande Tapisserie pattern. The Royal Oak family has many blue dial watches, some that look gorgeous with a pink gold case or the perpetual calendar that is entirely blue (the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ref. 26579CS.OO.1225CS.01), but this chronograph finds its charm in the blue watch face that graciously meets the white subdial rings, gold applied hour-markers, Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating and orange chronograph hands and accents.
Paired with a stainless steel bracelet with an AP folding clasp, the watch finds its home inside a 39mm steel case which is water resistant to 100 meters. Powering this high-spirited timepiece, released a decade ago, is the selfwinding Calibre 2386, delivering a power reserve of around 40 hours. If the orange here complements your style, then this Royal Oak also offers an orange Arabic numeral 60-second chronograph scale around the blue perimeter rehaut.
Asking price: USD 63,696
Available now on Wristcheck.
Royal Oak Selfwinding
Ref. 15400OR.OO.D088CR.01
An incredibly refined and sophisticated selfwinding timepiece, this Royal Oak features an 18k rose gold case that finds its contrast in the white tapisserie dial and a hand-stitched black alligator leather strap. The poise of this dress watch is also evident in its pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, along with a restrained date window at 3 o'clock.
The watch, which was introduced in 2012 and was produced until 2019, has a fixed octagonal bezel and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, along with a see-through caseback that offers a view of its engine. The 41mm timepiece is functioning on the Calibre 3120 movement and oscillating at a frequency of 3Hz (21,600 vph). The 4.26mm-thick movement with a date functionality has a total diameter of 26.6mm and generates a power reserve of approximately 60 hours. This timepiece also offers a water resistance of upto 50 meters.
Asking price: USD 63,696
Available now on Wristcheck.
Royal Oak
Ref. 14700BA
The Royal Oak Ref. 14700BA in yellow gold is a compact version of the original Royal Oak Ref. 5402 that was released in the 1970s. This iteration was launched in limited numbers in the 1990s and wears an 18k yellow gold case that features the Royal Oak's signature octagonal-shaped bezel and a tapisserie dial. This old timer remains relevant in the present times, thanks to the simplicity of its design and functions. Along with the hours and minutes, the watch face also shows a date aperture at 3 o'clock.
It is an uncluttered timepiece that comes housed in a 36mm case and is powered by the Calibre 2225 self winding movement. The engine, which has a diameter of 26.6mm and a thickness of 3.25mm, oscillates at a frequency of 4Hz, making 28,800 vibrations per hour. The bi-directional self winding movement with 36 jewels delivers a power reserve of around 40 hours.
Asking price: USD 53,504
Available now on Wristcheck.
Royal Oak Yellow Gold Diamond
Ref. 14486BA.OO.0477BA.02.A
Sixteen years after the Royal Oak was launched, Royal Oak Ref. 14486BA.OO.0477BA.02.A was born. This handsome timepiece released in 1988 has a 36mm yellow gold case that features a screw-down crown and a gold dial with diamond indexes. The tapisserie pattern of the dial adds to the overall elegance of this timepiece that runs on the automatic Calibre 2131 movement.
The streamlined shape of the case perfectly matches the Audemars Piguet bracelet with a folding clasp. While at 12 o'clock is the AP logo, the date window appears at 3 o'clock. The movement, comprising 24 jewels, offers a power reserve of around 38 hours and the timepiece is water resistant up to 50 meters.
Asking price: USD 50,701
Available now on Wristcheck.
Royal Oak Quantieme Annual
Ref. 25920ST.O.0789ST/02
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Quantième Annuel Ref. 25920ST.O.0789ST/02, which is French for the annual calendar, was produced in limited numbers in the early 2000s. Its distinct design has excited several watch collectors and enthusiasts, courtesy its dial implementation with a recessed off-center subdial at 5 o'clock to display months. The blue dial, which remains a classic choice, indicates days on the center ring, adding to the aesthetic remarkability of the piece.
This Royal Oak is an inventive, robust timepiece that has been housed in a 36mm stainless steel case and flanked by a stainless steel bracelet. The steel aesthetic of the watch brilliantly complements the blue tapisserie dial with a brushed finish. The outer part of the dial too flaunts a sunburst finish. Water resistant up to 50 meters, this clever Royal Oak iteration is powered by the self winding Caliber 2224/2814 movement that achieves a power reserve of around 38 hours.
Asking price: USD 50,956
Available now on Wristcheck.
