Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Monaco, Jul 19, 2022

LOT 101

AUDEMARS PIGUET
REF. 5402, SELF-WINDING, DATE, CALIBRE 2121; "ROYAL OAK" SO-CALLED "JUMBO", A-SERIES, ORIGINAL PAPERS AND BOX; STAINLESS STEEL

EUR 120,000 - 180,000

USD 128,000 - 190,000 / HKD 1,000,000 - 1,490,000 / CHF 122,000 - 182,000

A very fine and very rare, stainless steel, self-winding, “tonneau”-shaped, oversize gentleman's wristwatch, water-resistant with case-back screwed by eight screws, octagonal ship's porthole-shaped bezel screwed by eight hexagonal "nuts" screws, grey colour "tapisserie" dial, with instantaneous date of the month.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Brand Audemars Piguet, Le Brassus (Vallée de Joux)

Model "Royal Oak", A-Series

Reference 5402

Year sold in December 1973

Movement No. 142 414

Case No. A 987

Material stainless steel

Bracelet integrated stainless steel AP bracelet with deployant buckle

Diameter 39 mm.

Length 170 mm. (approx.)

Caliber 2121, 36 jewels

Weight 96.2 gr. (approx.)

Signature dial, case and movement

Accessories original "Royal Oak" fitted box, Certificat of Origin and Guarantee (dated Zürich, Meister Uhren AG, December 1973), three additional stainless steel links; Service paper (dated Wempe, Hamburg, May 30, 2009)

Notes

Audemars Piguet, “Royal Oak”, Ref. 5402

In 1972, Audemars Piguet introduced the “Royal Oak” wristwatch with a first batch of 1 000 pieces, called “Série A” due to the letter “A” engraved on their case-backs. Two years later, additional series were produced under the Ref. 5204 with the letter “B”, “C” and “D”.

The A-series “Royal Oak” is powered by the ultra-thin AP calibre 2121, derived from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s legendary ultra-thin JLC 920 movement.

Designed by the brilliant Gérald Genta (1931-2011), this timepiece bears witness to the 1970s and the emergence of the notion of the sport-luxury watch.

The feature making this watch exceptional is the patinated “caramel” “tapisserie” dial.

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Where does the name “Royal Oak” come from?

At a time when his enemies were in hot pursuit, the future King Charles II of England found refuge in a large hollow oak tree where he lay concealed for some time.

This “Royal Oak” came down in history as the symbol of a powerful force protecting a precious life: as in the case of the four vessels of the Royal Navy, launched in 1802, 1852, 1892 and 1914 that where named after it;
as in the case of our watch which conceals under its armoured case, the most valuable of mechanisms.

What over name could have been more suitable?

Source
Royal Oak, a new performance by Audemars Piguet, Le Brassus and Geneva, 1973.