L’Officiel Malaysia – July 2019

L’Ofciel Bijoux 74

ROYAL OAK BY AUDEMARS PIGUET

Year of birth: 1970

Design brief: Legendary designer Gerald Genta’s partnership

with Audemars Piguet began long before the conception of

the Royal Oak, which he was commissioned to design with

an overnight lead time. The result was a never-before-seen

iteration of a steel sports watch with a new waterproof

technology. Genta referenced the system of a vintage diver’s

helmet screwed onto his suit and replicated the eight screws

on the watch bezel with a revolutionary octagonal shape

that still stands as a Audemars Piguet signature today. The

watch was commercially produced in 1972 after Genta etched

out the prototype and a year in development. Interestingly,

the watch was initially derided for being too large before it

became a runaway success. The innovative visible screw

feature pioneered by Genta is a technical detail that is now

much admired and emulated.

New in 2019: Debuting the concept of a luxury sports watch

made of steel, Audemars Piguet’s original Royal Oak retailed

as the most expensive steel watch back in the day. This year’s

renditions run the gamut from the Royal Oak Offshore—highly

engineered ceramic chronographs in 44 mm size that are offered

in trailblazing camouflage colours and highly contrasted versions

of gem-set rainbow and grey ceramic—to a repertoire that

features openworking, gem-setting and new colour, finish and

material medleys with resizing to flatter smaller wrists. Purists

and devotees of the Royal Oak icon will be mightily pleased

with this year’s five new models that champion its essence: the

Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin with a new colour combination;

four new chronographs in 38 mm that fit both men and women;

a decadent-looking limited-edition purple dial Frosted Gold

Chronograph; and the super sophisticated Royal Oak Tourbillon

Extra-Thin with black ceramic case and bracelet.

Royal Oak Double Balance Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin

Wheel Openworked

Royal Oak Frosted Gold

Selfwinding Chronograph

Royal Oak Quartz

Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph