Audemars Piguet was one of the very first brands to incorporate tantalum in its regular production references. Rarely used in watchmaking due to its ability to chew through machinery much quicker than most other metals, tantalum is a heavy, hard, and lustrous metal with a high melting point and impressive corrosion resistance. Thus, high temperatures are needed for tantalum to be adapted, and once it has been annealed, it can be quite ductile and easy to fabricate. According to our research, Audemars Piguet pioneered their first tantalum watch at the behest of King Juan Carlos of Spain, who wanted a Royal Oak with a stealth-like tone for hunting purposes. Contrasted with the rosy warmth of 18K pink gold, the pairing presents a perfect balance from opposite ends of the spectrum.

To accentuate this contrast of case materials, the typical clous de Paris dial is done away with in favor of a vertically brushed grey dial with pink gold-toned hour indexes and details to create a more subtle and subdued layout. This is consistent with its D-series case number and certificate of origin dated to 1997. Sized at a perfectly proportioned 36mm, though wearing a bit larger due to the engineering of the bracelet into the case, the reference 14790 succeeded the earlier midsize reference 4100 and was in production from approximately 1993 until 2006.

Preserved in splendid condition, the present 14790TR is an exceptional iteration of an icon, rendered in one of the coolest case material combinations ever found on a Royal Oak. It is offered with its original Certificate of Origin confirming its sale on December 23th, 1997 – a covetable Christmas present indeed.