Audemars Piguet was one of the very first brands to use Tantalum in its line of production. Rarely used in watchmaking, tantalum is a heavy, hard and lustrous metal which exhibits an alluring dark and modish luster. Very high temperatures are needed for tantalum to be adapted, and once it has been formed it is highly corrosion-resistant and extremely durable. 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 stealthy tone.

Aesthetically speaking, the present watch has an alluring appeal which would not be an overstatement to be called one of the most stunning Royal Oak iterations. With a beautiful grey dial, 18K pink gold bezel and accents, the present timepiece impeccably epitomizes the union of unmissable good look and sublime technical expertise. The case back of the present watch is engraved No. 278, suggesting it was the 278th example made in this configuration. No longer in production, the present ref. 14790TR dated to 1996 confirmed by Audemars Piguet Extract from the Archives is offered in excellent condition. Perfect for the distinguished collector seeking for a classic icon with a different shade of metal.