Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet Year: 2002 Reference No: 14790ST Movement No: 536'183 Case No: E81713.7829 Model Name: Royal Oak Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal 2225, 36 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet, max length 170mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Audemars Piguet Certificate of Origin stamped Parisi Gioielli "Orotime" Taranto, hang-tag, wooden box and fitted presentation box. Further accompanied by Audemars Piguet and Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo co-signed Royal Oak 50th Anniversary Attestation.
Catalogue Essay
Reference 14790 was in production from 1992 to 2005. Housing the automatic caliber 2125 and 2225 it remained the central model in the Royal Oak collection until it was replaced by reference 15300. The model can be divided into 3 series 1st Series (1992): the dial features a vintage style Audemars Piguet signature with a flat A, "Petite Tapisserie" dial and long indexes 2nd Series (1993-2000): the Audemars Piguet signature is enlarged and features a pointed top A, "Petite Tapisserie" dial and long indexes 3rd Series (2000-2005): the Audemars Piguet signature is similar to the 2nd Series but the dial features "Grande Tapisserie" motif and short indexes.
A representative of the 3rd Series, the present piece is obviously distinguished by its extremely attractive red dial. In fact, a restricted number of watches were fitted with brightly colored dials. It goes without saying that their carefree modern looks coupled with their absolute scarcity propelled any such piece to the pinnacle of Royal Oak collecting. For the joy of the most demanding collector, Phillips is proud to be able to offer an example of each of the three colors produced: red, blue and yellow making this a virtually unique occasion to be able to create from scratch a mind-blowing 3-watches collection.
A specialist in the manufacture of complications since it was established in 1881, Audemars Piguet never ceases to impress with a rich history of creating bold, even audacious, timepieces underpinned by traditional watchmaking at its finest. This Le Brassus-based Swiss manufacturer is one of only two major manufacturers still owned by the founding family. Since its earliest days, AP is considered a leader in the field of minute repeaters and grande complication pocket and wristwatches. The brand is devoted to preserving the history of watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux, showcased at their superb museum in Le Brassus.
Today, the brand is best known for its Royal Oak models, a revolutionary luxury sports watch launched in 1972. Other key models include early minute repeating wristwatches, vintage chronograph wristwatches, such as the oversized reference 5020, perpetual calendar watches and the Royal Oak Offshore, first introduced in 1993.