In response the quartz crisis of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak wristwatch in 1972 as the world’s first stainless steel luxury sports watch with fully integrated bracelet. Designed by famed horologer Gerald Genta, it was a model that revolutionised luxury watch design thanks to its octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal white gold screws. The watch had a distinctly nautical feel, and with the introduction in 1993 of the Royal Oak Offshore, Audemars Piguet sought to update the iconic Royal Oak with a sporty and even more masculine aesthetic. Stephen Urquhart, then managing director of AP, asked designer Emmanuel Gueit to update the model with a larger version in hopes of attracting a younger, more recreational buyer. Gueit retained the Royal Oak classic design, but the original’s 39mm case diameter was enlarged to a 42mm diameter case, which when released, was referred to as the “Beast”. The new Offshore featured a chronograph and calendar mechanism, along with a prominent rubber gasket sandwiched between the bezel and case, and therban – a type of rubber - coated chronograph pushers and screw down crown. These elements enhanced the nautical theme of the Royal Oak model and over the ensuing years it has often been associated with sailing events.

The present watch is a very rare and extremely impressive iteration of that famed design. Featuring a prestigious perpetual calendar and moon phase indication in addition to a chronograph function, this specimen of reference 25854 not only is the hardly ever seen pink gold version - a true statement of luxe in itself. Made in 1999, it furthermore represents the first series of the model, distinguished by a different dial design featuring double metal rimming to the subsidiary counters and different graphics (most notably, first series examples feature a radial disposition of the day of the month in the subdial at 12 o’ clock). Finally, it remains in excellent condition: the layer of oxidation developed on the case amplifies the warmth of the timepiece and is telltale indication of a life mostly spent in the safety of a vault.