In 1969, Seiko released their first quartz wristwatch, and forever changed the horological landscape. This disruptive technology pressed Swiss watch manufacturers to rethink their designs and marketing strategies for luxury timepieces. With societal and cultural changes, the classic and conservative gentleman’s gold watches of the 1950s and 1960s were no longer as desired by a more casual public and watch brands needed to adapt an era of enormous change. At Audemars Piguet, they conferred with famed designer Gérald Genta, who created one of today’s most iconic timepieces, the Royal Oak. Named for a series of eight ships in the British Royal Navy, which in turn were named for the ancient hollowed oak tree in which it is said Charles the Second of England hid to escape from Parliamentarians during the English Civil War (1641-1652), the Royal Oak was launched in 1972 as the first stainless steel luxury sports watch. With its octagonal bezel with distinctive polished screws and integrated steel bracelet, it was a truly ground-breaking model. The lavish finishing and high-quality movement within made it the most expensive steel watch ever offered at the time. It was masculine, avant-garde, and above all, a remarkable display of Audemars Piguet’s courage and audacity. Over the years Audemars Piguet expanded the scope of the Royal Oak with various models ranging from the iconic first reference 5402, to examples with perpetual calendar, tourbillon, chronograph. In another audacious move, Audemars Piguet launched the Royal Oak Offshore line in 1993, which ushered in the trend for larger watches. In 2002, the brand introduced the revolutionary Royal Oak Concept, or CW1, watch for the 30th anniversary of the Royal Oak as an exploration on what they believed the Royal Oak could look like in the future.
The concept watch was built to demonstrate the brand’s technical prowess and master craftsmanship, as well as illustrate cutting edge technical advances. It featured a case made of Alacrite 602, an innovative alloy of cobalt, chrome, tungsten, silicon and iron, that was never again used in any other watch. The robust, angular case’s design roots are clearly the same as the original Royal Oak from 1972, enlarged to a 44mm diameter with sharp facets and two sapphire crystals so the movement is fully exposed. The movement by famed complication specialist Renaud et Papi features a three arm, red-colored tourbillon carriage, and on this “piece unique”, a solid balance bridge spanning the top and bottom of the dial side to secure the tourbillon-equipped escapement. At the 12 o’clock position, Audemars Piguet added a “dynamographe” to represent the quality of torque on the mainspring, and to its right is a unique linear power reserve indicator spanning the length of the dial from 1 to 5 o’clock. At 6 o’clock, a function selection indicator showing the current function of the crown: winding (R-remontoir), neutral (N-neutre) and setting (H-heures). Through the screw down push button at 4 o’clock, the watch is set to the desired function in order to wind or set the time. The back of the movement is fitted with uniquely engraved plaques with an image of the HMS Royal Oak, the British flag and Royal Navy pendant as well as maps of the Americas and Asia.
The present unique Royal Oak Concept Watch is exceedingly rare as it is one of only 14 unique examples of the CW1 believed to have ever been made. Consigned by the original owner and complete with its original certificate and presentation box, it was sold by the New York Audemars Piguet Boutique. Being sold to benefit The One Drop Foundation, a charity striving to provide safe drinking water to all communities, this is a wonderful opportunity to own one of the rarest and most important Royal Oak models of the 21st century
