Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet Year: 1988 Reference No: 14544BA Movement No: 301'705 Case No: 203 and C46493 Model Name: Royal Oak Material: 18K yellow gold, diamonds and rubies Calibre: Automatic, cal. 2131, 19 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet bracelet, max length 165mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Audemars Piguet Extrait de Registre confirming production of the present watch on June 6, 1988 and service box.
Catalogue Essay
Lavishly embellished with diamonds on the bezel, dial, along with ruby-set numerals, this Royal Oak is a superlative example. Displaying hallmarks on the caseback along with crisp and visible bevels, it is a luxurious and eye-catching variant of the iconic Royal Oak model that we know so well today.
Produced in 1988, this watch shows how daring Audemars Piguet was, already in the 1980s, creating fantastical and opulent timepieces. The pavé dial is particularly stunning and the diamond setting is done with utmost precision. Moreover, the timepiece houses an automatic movement and a 36 millimeter case - a rarity itself, as most bejeweled Royal Oak models from this period were smaller in size and displayed a quartz movement.
A specialist in the manufacture of complications since it was established in 1881, Audemars Piguet never ceases to impress with a rich history of creating bold, even audacious, timepieces underpinned by traditional watchmaking at its finest. This Le Brassus-based Swiss manufacturer is one of only two major manufacturers still owned by the founding family. Since its earliest days, AP is considered a leader in the field of minute repeaters and grande complication pocket and wristwatches. The brand is devoted to preserving the history of watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux, showcased at their superb museum in Le Brassus.
Today, the brand is best known for its Royal Oak models, a revolutionary luxury sports watch launched in 1972. Other key models include early minute repeating wristwatches, vintage chronograph wristwatches, such as the oversized reference 5020, perpetual calendar watches and the Royal Oak Offshore, first introduced in 1993.
