Haute Living Los Angeles March/April 2012
HAUTE TIME: THE AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK 39MM

As every keen watch enthusiast knows, this year marks an important anniversary in the history of both watchmaking, and a small, independent, family-owned company based in Le Brassus, Switzerland, known as Audemars Piguet.  It was forty years ago that Audemars Piguet took the bold –in the opinion of many, downright rash –step of offering a watch that was unlike anything else anyone had ever seen.  That watch was the Royal Oak.

Though it’s become one of the most widely recognized watches in the world in subsequent decades, in 1972 opinion was pretty evenly divided –both inside and outside the company –as to whether the launch of the Royal Oak was a stroke of genius or simply suicidal.  For one thing, it was unlike any watch that Audemars Piguet –known before that fateful year primarily for its expertise in complicated watchmaking and for its beautiful gold and platinum dress watches –had ever made before.  It was actually unlike any watch anyone had ever made before –by 1972, there were certainly chunky sports watches galore in stainless steel, but an elegant, stainless steel, integrated bracelet luxury sports watch was simply unheard of.

READ THE FULL REVIEW ON HAUTETIME.COM

Jan 20, 2012 4:48 PM
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The iconic Royal Oak model by Audemars Piguet is turning 40 and the milestone is being commemorated in a big way. The 40th anniversary of the world's first ever luxury sports timepiece will be marked by a worldwide exhibition celebrating the history of the world-coveted watch and its iconic maker.
by Haley Friedlich, Mar 19, 2012 7:31 AM
 
Haute Time had the huge honor of sitting down with Mr. Philippe Merk, CEO of Audemars Piguet at The Park Avenue Armory in New York City, where the brand was celebrating the 40th Anniversary of The Royal Oak timepiece.
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This not to be missed event combines design, photography, film and sound creating the Royal Oak 40th anniversary worldwide exhibition.
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A vintage Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo once belonging to French Actor Alain Delon sold for a record price of €68,750.
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Actor and former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger stopped by Audemars Piguet booth at SIHH on January 19th. Alongside CEO Philippe Merk, the Audemars Piguet brand ambassador got a personal viewing of the 2012 collection.
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Audemars Piguet truly changed the game with the Royal Oak, the first luxury sports watch in Haute Horlogerie. Such an influential timepiece deserves to be celebrated in a major way, so the Royal Oak 40th anniversary celebrations continued last night at the Park Avenue Armory; also the home of the 4-...
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Tom Brady, Victor Cruz and performers Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas accessorized their formalwear with Audemars Piguet.
by Jack Forster, May 9, 2012 2:19 PM
 
After 5 Weeks, and 32 Top Watches, Audemars Piguet has been named the Official Winner of the First Annual Timepiece Madness!
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