All in a Day’s Work! Designing Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak

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At Kapoor Watch Company, a watch is not just a watch. Beyond telling time, it is a symbol of the era, a statement of identity, a piece of art. Each piece and brand brings more to the table!

But what makes these brands stand out and make a mark? Is it their drive for innovation, their quest for perfection… all that and much more, we think! And nowhere else other than at Audemars Piguet does this adage come true.

Audemars Piguet’s luxury watch Royal Oak is now firmly ensconced in the constellation of timeless pieces that can withstand change, but knowing its journey makes it even more special. Do you know that the Royal Oak is also known as the One Day Wonder? Join us to explore why…

The year 1972 : Audemars Piguet introduces a stunning watch for men with an integrated bracelet at Swiss Watch World, known as Baselworld today. Sleek, smooth, and effortless, the Royal Oak starts out as a huge international favourite. Years of crafting luxury watches inspired AP to think out-of-the-box and that’s precisely what happened.

Innovation is the name of the game and speaking to their consumers revealed to AP in 1971 that there has to be a Next Big Thing in the works for AP to make its mark. They reached out to watch designer extraordinaire Gerald Genta, one of the most famous designers at the time. The brief was to create an unprecedented steel luxury watch. The deadline? The very next day.

Genta rose to the challenge and how! The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, which he later said was the masterpiece of his career, was designed by the next morning. Inspired by a traditional diver’s helmet, the octagonal bezel is the undisputed cherry on top. Waterproof, slim at only 7 mm, with a distinct case diameter of 39 mm – a new luxury language was born with this sleek and luxurious steel sports watch for men.

Today, the Royal Oak still garners love and attention – its simple yet timeless design makes it a modern day heirloom. AP’s decision to go for steel did not miss its mark. To mark its 20th Anniversary, the Royal Oak Offshore was launched. To pay homage to this complex watch, its designer Emmanuel Gueit proposed a deconstructed approach. Key elements such as black gasket on the bezel are visible, creating a futuristic look that’s much loved till this date.

Title – the Royal Oak Offshore launched in 1993

Several iterations & updates later, the Royal Oak is still going strong and stands as a testament to the art behind fine watchmaking.