The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is Gerald Genta’s most memorable work, and in many ways changed the shape of the watch industry.

The introduction of the original Royal Oak in 1972 essentially launched an entirely new category of 'luxury sport' timepieces, and with it came a new design language which inspired countless other manufactures. What's particularly delightful about the design of the Royal Oak is that it works brilliantly in a number of sizes and casing materials, from steel to carbon fiber or solid gold.

In 2017, Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak ‘2017 QEII Cup’ honoring the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, a heart-racing thoroughbred race that has taken place at the Royal Ascot for almost 40 years, and was limited to just 200 pieces.

This model, a Reference 15453IP.ZZ.1256IP.01, features a two-tone 37mm titanium and platinum case construction with a platinum factory diamond-set bezel, signed titanium crown and is fitted with the hallmark integrated multi-link bracelet, including both titanium and platinum links, which imparts an impressive presence on the wrist, unique within the Royal Oak line. 

Its silver ‘grand tapisserie’ textured dial is home to applied, diamond-set indices and a matching handset while the reverse side of the case features an exhibition caseback revealing AP’s in-house Calibre 3120 automatic movement with an engraved gold winding-rotor paying tribute to the Challenge Cup.

Coming complete with its inner and outer box set, books, and papers dated from 2019, this one is a stunner in the metal and is absolutely a cut above your garden-variety Royal Oak!