With the 50th Anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak just around the corner, it is perhaps important to take a look at how the iconic model has flourished over the decades to what it has become today. With its monumental debut in 1972, the Royal Oak was the first ever stainless steel luxury sports wristwatch by the firm commanding the price of a gold watch. Although initially released as a time and date-only wristwatch, the Royal Oak has offered collectors a wide array of preferences over the years by incorporating various complications as well as new materials and dial variations.

In 1984, Audemars Piguet released their first Royal Oak model equipped with a perpetual calendar complication. The incorporation of the perpetual calendar complication in the Royal Oak was inevitable, as it is also another signature trait of the firm, which they have mastered over decades. Released during arguably one of the most sensitive times in modern-day horology of the quartz crisis, the idea of creating a mechanical perpetual calendar was certainly a luxury as most were shifting their focus onto quartz-powered timepieces during the period.

The latest addition to the Royal Oak family of Quantieme Perpetual wristwatches is the firm’s new 41mm diameter model featuring the robust cal. 5134 originally developed from the ultra-slim cal. 2120, which was used in the original Royal Oak A series. Retaining its slim profile, the cal. 5134 features an additional week indication via the outer track, a feature that was not incorporated in Quantieme Perpetuals in a 39mm diameter case.

The present example Audemars Piguet Quantieme Perpetual ref. 26597PT.OO.1220PT.01 launched in 2019 belongs to a rare and special limited edition series made exclusively for the established Japanese family-owned retailer, Yoshida. Limited only to 20 pieces worldwide and only offered to loyal and established clients of the retailer in Japan, the model features a hefty platinum case giving the watch a nice and hefty wrist presence complemented further by its thin profile. Unique only to the specific reference, the black grande tapisserie dial is contrasted beautifully with silver registers indicating the day, month and date.

With the demand for Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars ever-growing in the community, the present exclusive example is certainly more than just a great catch for the lucky new owner. Complete with its full set of accessories and offered in well-preserved condition, it is the first example to ever appear at a PHILLIPS auction and we are delighted and humbled to be able to offer this special example to our community of collectors.