Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watches

“The year 1972 marked the debut of what has become the signature model for Audemars Piguet, the "Royal Oak".  Designed by the legendary watchmaker Gerald Genta, its octagonal shape, steel edges and the use of prominent hexagonal screws as a design feature strike a perfect balance between power and elegance.  Worthy of its name, the Royal Oak has since become a legend.  Its octagonal design, originally produced only in high-grade steel, took the breath away even of many professionals.  However, when the Royal Oak was unveiled at the 1972 European watch making fair in Basel with a price tag of just 3,300 SFr. -- unheard of for a watch bearing the Audemars Piguet name -- its success was beyond even its creators' expectations!  Since then, the Royal Oak has become the leading model of the world-famous firm in Le Brassus and helped the stainless steel wristwatch attain respectability among watch lovers around the world.  The Royal Oak has become the ideal watch for the man of today, whether his style is aristocratic or casual.  This creation, the first sports watch, has become his watch. This elegant, stylish timepiece, with its octagonal bezel and visible screws, made its first appearance in steel, elevating this material on to a new artistic plane." - Audemars Piguet