With superior expertise in innovating new materials to be incorporated into timepieces, Audemars Piguet has excelled over the decades offering collectors a wide variety of case materials to suit their personal preferences. One of the most cherished materials that the firm has incorporated was the use of tantalum which is still admired by most collectors today due to its luxurious heft, robustness and its sleek greyish appeal.

Immediately recognisable by the “Championship” engraving to the back, the Royal Oak Championship ref. 56175TT was issued as a limited edition of 2,000 pieces in 1990 to commemorate Sir Nick Faldo’s back-to-back Masters and British Open victories. While extremely attractive thanks to the subtle shift in nuances granted by the two-tone steel and tantalum case, the model is notable from a historical point of view as it is the first example of this metal combination on a Royal Oak. Earlier watches in tantalum and pink gold are known, but this is the first appearance of the steel/tantalum combination. Powered by the firm’s quartz cal. 2612, it is equipped with a practical date function. The present example cased in 33mm offers a chic appeal for collectors seeking for an elegantly sized timepiece for daily wear.