First launched in 1972, the Royal Oak was the world’s first stainless steel luxury sports watch with a fully integrated bracelet. Designed overnight in response to an urgent request for an “unprecedented steel watch”, it was at the time the most expensive stainless steel watch ever made. The model became an icon and fan favourite for its rugged, masculine, and sporty aesthetic, and since its introduction, Audemars Piguet has produced many iterations of its original Royal Oak, experimenting with different case sizes, materials, and dial treatments.
The reference 25829 was produced from 1996 to 2013 and made in 371 pieces in steel, 102 pieces in yellow gold, 174 in pink gold, 156 in platinum, 25 in steel and platinum plus another one made in 2006, 15 pieces in tantalum and yellow gold, 16 in tantalum and platinum, and 16 in tantalum and pink gold. The model is immensely charismatic with skeletonised yet extremely legible dial and fitted with the caliber 2120/2802 featuring a leap year indicator not seen on its predecessors. The superbly skeletonized movement can be admired on the dial side, with the caseback side featuring openworked plates and winding rotor which are delicately hand engraved.
The present stainless steel Royal Oak Openworked Perpetual Calendar dates back to 2011 with its certificate of authenticity.
The watch is in excellent condition and a wonderful celebration of this iconic model.