Today, watches like the Royal Oak endless calendar skeleton (a benchmark in AP’s collection and one of the finest perpetuals on the current market, in my own opinion), the Royal Oak Equation of Time, the innovative Chron-AP, and also this Millenary Minute Repeater prove that AP is certainly a top-tier manufacture. AP’s in-house self-winding caliber 3120, found inside the basic Royal Oak 15400, can also be among the best base movements in the world. All these are the things that keep AP pertinent to “real” watch lovers that occasionally get lost in the buzz round the other types of AP buyers.And then there’s your typical well-to-do watch purchaser. To me, the best analogy for this other kind of AP purchaser is told using a singular scene in one episode of a single television show that was popular for a period of time some years back. I am speaking about Entourage, and I wager the great majority of you know the way to which scene I’m referring.Ari Gold receives a solid gold Royal Oak chronograph (not as the opinion I’ll review down below) by his then-soon-to-be boss, who explains it as “One of the best watches in the world.” The camera then pans to the solid gold watch from its box, and Ari is in disbelief about the gift — and thus, AP is introduced to a whole bunch of potential new customers, the men who see Entourage. From this time, you see several of the personalities on the show wearing APs. Many at the time considered Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch Replica Replica had compensated for the placement, but in discussions with AP over time, it was revealed to me that not just one dollar was exchanged. Rather, a particular manufacturer on the show proved to be a large AP customer, and insisted it be a Royal Oak presented to Ari. Entourage did a lot for AP, but it wasn’t this 1 placement that defines the “other” kind of AP customer. It does give you an notion of where AP is popular, and that is in Hollywood, music, and sports, with the youthful and moneyed.
The ladies’ Royal Oak marks its 40th year in 2016 with the Royal Oak Frosted Gold, giving the signature Audemars Piguet Watches History Replica wristwatch a new surface finish for the first time.
Working with Italian jewellery designer Carolina Bucci, Audemars Piguet adopted a decorative technique from Florentine jewellery for the new Royal Oak, giving it a finely hammered surface.
Originally designed in 1976 by Jacqueline Dimier, the Royal Oak for women was an evolution of the original Royal Oak ref. 5402 designed by Gerald Genta in 1972. Compact and dainty but resolutely octagonal, the ladies’ Royal Oak is transformed with the Florentine finish.
The original Royal Oak for women
Instead of the traditional straight grained, brushed finish applied to all flat surfaces of the watch case and bracelet, the Royal Oak Frosted Gold is treated with a diamond-tipped tool. Used to repeatedly dig into the surface of the gold, the tool creates tiny dimples, creating a textured surface that sparkles in the light.
The Florentine finish is usually found on small pieces of jewellery, often used by Carolina Bucci on her creations. Repurposing the technique for serial production of the Royal Oak Frosted Gold took several months, especially when it came to perfecting the finish of the bracelet while retaining its flexility.
The Royal Oak Frosted Gold is available in white or rose gold. Both versions are offered either as a 37mm automatic powered by the in-house calibre 3120, or a 33mm watch with a quartz movement.
Price and availability
Available starting March 2017, the Royal Oak Frosted Gold is priced as follows, in Swiss francs including Swiss tax:
White gold 37mm, ref. 15454BC.GG.1259BC.01 – SFr51,500
White gold 33mm, ref. 67653BC.GG.1263BC.01 – SFr42,500
Pink gold 37mm, ref. 15454OR.GG.1259OR.01 – SFr46,500
Pink gold 33mm, ref. 67653OR.GG.1263OR.01 -SFr37,500
Prices are subject to change.
