New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watches for 2012

Original steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

The original steel Royal Oak from 1972

For 2012, Audemars Piguet has released a line of new novelties for their Royal Oak collection. Eight new Royal Oaks have been revealed, one for each screw and side of the iconic octagonal bezel I presume. All this is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak, which was first released in 1972. The Royal Oak became a landmark for both Audemars as a watch maker and the watch industry with its success. When it was released, it was a huge risk in the company’s long history. It was the first luxury sports watch made of steel, in a time where gold was the obvious standard.

Named after the wood used for old British warships and shaped like the portholes found on them, the Royal Oak featured a simple and bold design. Steel was the choice of metal for a sports watch at the time, but for a luxury watchmaker like Audemars Piguet, they treated it like gold. They used high-end finishing touches to the design normally seen only one precious metal cases, with alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces. They also included gold inside the watch, with the strong steel watch protecting its valuable cargo.

The industry and many customers were skeptical at first about the simple design and they asked why anyone would pay gold watch prices for a steel watch? This watches failure could have led to the failure of Audemars as a whole, but the confidence in their work showed in the confident design of the Royal Oak. It’s has since been a proud symbol of Audemars Piguet and an icon in the world of haute horology. Following the first steel model, precious metals were also applied to the sports watch. Since, Audemars has gone far beyond the advantages of steel and has experimented and specialized in new ultra-hard and ultra-light materials, such as titanium, aluminum, ceramics and forged carbon.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak magazine advertisement from 1972

Original Royal Oak print advertisement

Open-Worked Extra-Thin Royal Oak 40th Anniversary Edition

This celebration of 40 years of the Royal Oak is limited to only 40 pieces. The traditional-sized 39mm case is made of platinum instead of steel, along with white gold screws and markers. The skeletonized movement is given a galvanic anthracite treatment, giving it a gray coloring.

Extra-Thin Royal Oak Tourbillon

This Royal Oak stands as one of the thinnest tourbillon watches available, while still following traditional Royal Oak styling. It is comes in a 41mm case size, in either steel or pink gold.

Royal Oak Jumbo Extra Thin

This is a true tribute to the original Royal Oak, mimicking closely the details of the 1972 model. It comes in the traditional steel 39mm case, with the original, smaller “tapisserie” motif and color for the dial, along with the placement of the name and AP initials.