Watch Icons: Five Versions of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Ladies’ Stainless Steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Not just for the men, Audemars Piguet ensures that women have plenty of versions of the Royal Oak watch to choose from too. Take for example this stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 33 Quartz. It has everything you’d expect from a Royal Oak, just sized for a women’s wrist.

There’s the steel octagonal case sized at a demure 33mm, the exposed screws on the bezel, the steel integrated bracelet, and the black “Grand Tapisserie” dial. The dial is wonderfully simple with luminescent center hands, stick hour markers, and a discreet date window at 3 o’clock.

Men’s Yellow Gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

While the original Royal Oak was crafted in stainless steel, Audemars Piguet has reinterpreted the luxury sports watch in more lavish forms by dressing them in precious metals. For instance, this men’s Yellow Gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 36 Automatic is a classic example of a sporty, yet ultra precious Royal Oak.

The watch dons a 36mm 18k yellow gold octagonal case with a sumptuous brushed finishing—a detail which carries on through on the eight-sided yellow gold bezel and yellow gold integrated bezel. A hefty watch in looks and weight on the wrist, the black patterned dial serves as a sharp contrast to the yellow gold case and yellow gold details on the dial. There’s also a date window at 3 o’clock and everything runs on an automatic movement.

Men’s Rose Gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Although the metal integrated bracelet is a characteristic design trait of many Royal Oak watches, Audemars Piguet does offer some versions of their famous sports watch with a leather band instead—like this men’s Rose Gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 36 Automatic.

A handsome version of the Royal Oak that’s dressier than most of its counterparts, this models includes a 39mm rose gold case, a brown leather strap with a rose gold deployant clasp, and a crisp “tapisserie” dial with rose gold details. Plus, turn the watch around and you’ll see the automatic movement powering the Royal Oak through the exhibition caseback.

Men’s Stainless Steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar

The very first Royal Oak from 1972 was a simple time and date model, making heads turn with its bold design rather than complex watch mechanisms. However, as a manufacture, Audemars Piguet is famous for haute horology so it’s only natural that the brand would combine the sporty watch shape with intricate watch complications. Case in point is this men’s stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar.

Encased within the familiar Royal Oak silhouette, comprising of a 39mm steel octagonal case and steel integrated bracelet, is a perpetual calendar mechanism—a complication Audemars Piguet is famous for. This complex movement allows the watch to not only indicate the time, date, day, month, and moonphase, but does so correctly in perpetuity without the need for manual adjusting as long as the watch keeps running. Well, until 2100 when the leap year doesn’t take place.

Men’s Two Tone Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph

Of all the watch complications out there, the chronograph is by far the sportiest of the lot. In addition to permitting the user to time events, let’s says, for instance, a sporting event, the addition of the chronograph pushers on the case and the extra registers on the dials lends a sportier look to the watch. So it makes complete sense that the robust Royal Oak would take well to the chronograph complication.

And the men’s Two-Tone Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Leo Messi is not just any standard chronograph, but a limited edition one made in honor of soccer legend, Lionel Messi. Limited to just 400 pieces, this watch combines 18k rose gold with a tantalum bezel, along with a bushed anthracite bezel and matching anthracite colored alligator leather strap. On the dial, the chronograph function comes alive with the center chrono hand and the trio of subdials, while the date window is tucked in between 4 and 5 o’clock.

For most enthusiast collectors of fine watches, a collection is not complete without at least one Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. With its distinctive design and significant pedigree, this is one high-end timepiece to covet. And as we have clearly illustrated, there are plenty of versions of the Royal Oak out there to suit a range of tastes and budgets.