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Audemars Piguet Ref. 5402ST
Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet Year: circa 1972 Reference No: 5402ST Movement No: 127'641 Case No: 067'315-A315 Model Name: Royal Oak "A Series" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 2121, 36 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel, max length 180mm. Clasp/Buckle: Audemars Piguet deployant clasp Dimensions: 39mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Audemars Piguet Authenticity and Exclusivity Certificate and service papers dated September 2013, presentation box and additional link. Catalogue Essay Immediately recognizable even to the non cognoscenti, the Royal Oak has become one of the greatest horological designs of all time. Legend has it that suffering from the quartz crisis of the early 1970s, Audemars Piguet looked for a way to take the market by storm. It was decided that the time was right for an audacious luxury steel timepiece. Gerald Genta was commissioned to design this watch for which he had…24 hours. The result was a surprisingly bold maritime inspired design featuring an octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal gold screws, visible water resistance gasket and a dial adorned with a tapisserie motif. The Royal Oak was presented at the Basel fair in 1972. The rest, as they say, is history. Interestingly, the Royal Oak housed the extra slim caliber 2121 (developed by Jaeger LeCoultre as caliber 920), a caliber used by the three great Swiss makers in their luxury steel sports watches of the 1970s: Patek Philippe's Nautilus, Vacheron Constantin's 222 and of course Audemars Piguet with the Royal Oak. The first Royal Oak model reference 5402 is also referred to as the "A-Series" or "Jumbo". The "A-Series" is distinguished by the placement of the “AP” logo above 6 o’clock, compared to later examples typically bearing the “AP” logo at 12 o’clock. The dial is fitted with a dark tapisserie dial, aperture for date at 3 o’clock and luminous white gold hands and hour markers. When Audemars Piguet launched the Royal Oak, it was the most expensive stainless steel watch ever made at the time. Interestingly enough, the Royal Oak encased in stainless steel cost more money for the company to produce than their gold dress watches. So ground-breaking was its concept, Audemars Piguet's competitors thought the watch would bankrupt the company. 45 years after its launch, the Royal Oak remains the foundation of the sports chic watch that is disruptif, playful, sophisticated and exuding 70s cool. The present example is number 315, indicating that it was the 315th Royal Oak produced. Adding to the collectability of this piece, the watch is presented with an Audemars Piguet Certificate of Origin and service papers. Read More