First unveiled by Audemars Piguet in the early 1970s and designed by the late Gerald Genta, the Royal Oak became an icon for the manufacturer with very distinctive features. Offered only in stainless steel initially bearing a thin case matched with a sophisticated bracelet, it was not too long before it gained popularity redefining high-end steel sports watches during the golden era.

With the growing success of the Royal oak line, Audemars Piguet, later on, explored with different case materials, dial variations as well as adding complications such as perpetual calendars and minute repeaters.

The first production of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar was launched in 1984. With the forward-thinking approach from the Managing Director George Golay fitting the thin workhorse caliber 2120/2800 into the Royal Oak case, making it one of the world thinnest automatic perpetual calendar watch.

The early production of reference 25554 was made in only 279 examples, most of which are cased in yellow gold, a small number in stainless steel and only one in Platinum. The present lot is fitted with a black dial and based on our research could be the only one known with applied gold print. To further highlight the rarity of this piece, a subtle detail can be seen where the brand signature on the moon phase is of a smaller font, only found in early production pieces.

Further complimented with the Certificate of Origin, the present lot Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar is a true icon for the manufacturer that lays the foundation and success of this series.