26421ST

Tourbillon Chronograph · Skeleton Dial · 45 mm

Audemars Piguet is a Swiss watch brand best known for its Royal Oak line of stainless steel sports watches. The brand has released a few different variations of this line as well as other models, including vintage references, the Millenary, and the more recent Code 11.59 collection. Audemars Piguet has also been lauded for its high complications, family-owned business, and membership in the so-called “Holy Trinity” of watchmakers alongside Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. The company is widely considered a staple of luxury horology. 

Audemars Piguet has released a number of popular watch lines. Some of the most popular watch models from Audemars Piguet includeL 

• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak: The original stainless steel luxury sports watch launched in 1972, featuring an octagonal bezel, exposed screws, and an integrated bracelet
• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore: A sportier take on the Royal Oak line launched in the 1990s, featuring larger case sizes and heavy-duty materials
• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept: The line the brand uses to play with avant garde aesthetics and architecture, yielding many unique collaborations and limited edition pieces such as the Audemars Piguet X Marvel watches
• Audemars Piguet Code 11.59: A 2019 addition to the brand’s catalog featuring a more traditional rounded shape and marking a new chapter in the company’s design language

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak has become a horological icon due to its emergence as one of the first luxury stainless steel sports watches in the early 1970s. While much of the Swiss watch world was rocked by the quartz crisis and was losing ground to Japanese watch manufacturers, Audemars Piguet managed to stay afloat by releasing the Royal Oak. The collection has been thriving for more than 50 years since and remains eminently recognizable by its octagonal bezel, exposed screws, integrated bracelet, and alternating brushed and polished surfaces.   

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore share some key design language, but there are also important differences between these two models. The Royal Oak, released in 1972, is a slimmer sports watch with a smaller case size (normally 37mm to 41mm wide). The Royal Oak Offshore, released in 1993, is larger and thicker. The Royal Oak Offshore builds on the legacy of the Royal Oak with a more “rugged” look, emphasizing a bold mega tapisserie patterned dial, comfortable rubber strap, and especially durable components. The original Royal Oak, on the other hand, is a more streamlined piece that tends to wear more formally.  

Audemars Piguet watches generally hold their value well, although the value of pre-owned luxury watches can often fluctuate based on condition of the watch, market variations, and the performance of a particular model. We always encourage collectors to purchase luxury watches they love and are excited to wear, not just the ones that may perform well upon resale. That said, Audemars Piguet watches are widely considered a strong and stable investment, particularly popular models and collections like the classic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.