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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 14790ST “Military dial” Full set

Have a look at this beautiful Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 14790 with a Military dial.

The Royal Oak requires no introduction. It is one of the most recognizable and iconic watch designs out there. The Military dial is a bit of an oddity though. It breaks with the minimalist design of the original Royal Oak, to introduce a more brutalist aesthetic with Arabic numerals. The reference we see here should not usually house a military dial though, so it is safe to assume this has been replaced at some point. It is original AP though.

This dial offers a very cool departure from the “normal” Royal Oak. This is one of those watches that you can really fall for. And when you do, there is no substitute! Especially since this beauty comes complete with box and papers.

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Details
Brand Audemars Piguet
Movement Automatic
Model Royal Oak
Diameter 36 mm
Reference 14790ST
Bracelet/strap: Steel
Year of production (circa) 1999
Buckle/clasp Original steel folding clasp
Material Steel
Set Content Original box & papers
Crystal Sapphire
Warranty 2 year (AWCo)
Dial color Black
Backstory

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak represents one of the most pivotal moments in the history of wristwatches. It is the watch that quite literally saved AP and much of the Swiss watchmaking industry with it. To wear a Royal Oak is to wear a fabled piece of watchmaking history on the wrist.

The story starts in 1969. While the Americans are putting people on the moon, the Japanese prepare to drop a bomb (figuratively, of course!) on Swiss watchmaking. December ’69, Seiko launch the Astron, a battery-powered wristwatch that gets unparalleled accuracy from a vibrating crystal. The quartz watch is born! Overnight, watches have become infinitely cheaper, more accurate, and more durable. The Swiss watchmaking industry plummets into (what has later become known as) the quartz crisis: a failure to cope with the influx of cheap, battery-powered watches from Japan.

With sales crashing in the early seventies, an answer was needed. Audemars Piguet contracted designer Gerald Genta to come up with something revolutionary: a luxury steel sports watch. Genta was briefed at 4PM, the day before the 1971 Basel fair. He would need to deliver a game-changing design by the next morning. Genta took on the challenge and drew a shape that was as alien to the conservative watch world as the concept of a luxury steel watch itself. He would later call it his masterpiece, even though his other designs (a.o. the Universal Geneve Polerouter and Patek Philippe Nautilus) aren’t too shabby either.

Genta took inspiration from a divers helmet. Its octagonal bezel with exposed screws being its most distinguishing feature. The petit-tapisserie pattern dial and integrated bracelet with distinctive connecting links complete an instantly recognizable design. The resulting watch was launched in 1972.

At introduction, the AP Royal Oak was priced at 3300 Swiss francs. That is ten times more than a Rolex Submariner! We might consider the trusty Sub to be a luxury sports watch now, but this Audemars was in a different league altogether! There were solid gold Pateks that cost less at the time.

The Royal Oak became a massive success. Patek Philippe later followed its example with the Nautilus in 1976 and Vacheron Constantin with the Ref. 222 in 1977. Many Royal Oak variants followed. Different sizes, complications, colors and materials. The Royal Oak became one of the most iconic watch designs ever, highly sought after by collectors and virtually unobtainable for the lay person. Even for the lay person with money, as AP would cap its output and restrict sales of some variants to only the loyalest of its customers.

Today, the Royal Oak, both vintage and modern, is one of the single-most desirable watches out there. So if you are in the position to get your hands on this one, our advice is to make your deliberations quickly!

Shipping

At AWCo we put the safety of our shipments upfront at all times. Therefore, we ship all our packages insured.

We strive to promptly handle packages to minimize delays. Delivery times begin from the day of dispatch. While we make every effort to ensure smooth delivery, we cannot be held responsible for delays caused by destination customs, local duties, taxes, or lost items during transit.

Certainly, we understand that overloaded mail-order companies can also contribute to potential delays in the delivery process. Despite our best efforts, external factors beyond our control may affect shipping times. Rest assured, we remain committed to providing timely service and will work diligently to ensure your order reaches you as promptly as possible. For any inquiries or updates, feel free to reach out to us at info@awco.nl. Your satisfaction is our priority.

Brand

Audemars Piguet

Model

Reference

14790ST

Year of production (circa)

1999

Material

Steel

Crystal

Sapphire

Dial color

Black

Movement

Automatic

Diameter

36 mm

Bracelet/strap:

Steel

Buckle/clasp

Original steel folding clasp

Lug Width
Set Content

Original box & papers