Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 35mm 18k Yellow Gold REF 4100
About the Item
- Creator:
- Design:
- Case Material:
- Movement:
- Case Dimensions:Diameter: 1.38 in (35 mm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1731222527372
Royal Oak Watch
For vintage watch collectors everywhere, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak is a stylish, widely coveted status symbol. It features the incorporation of an unconventional material that would one day prove revolutionary to watchmaking, and for celebrated Swiss designer Gérald Genta (1931–2011), it is perhaps his best-known work. Incredibly, its story begins with a simple inspiration: the humble screw.
First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak wristwatch featured a now-legendary design that Genta borrowed from antique diving helmets. More hardware than garment, these helmets were crafted in brass and attached to a diving suit with large screws. Genta translated the motif from the rim of the diving helmet to Audemars Piguet’s newest timepiece, setting eight miniature screws into an octagonal bezel, which surrounded a textured “tapisserie,” or tapestry, dial. Following its launch at what would become the Baselworld watch and jewelry fair, Audemars Piguet aptly touted a “bezel locked dramatically to its face, tightly as a porthole.”
In addition to its unique bezel design, the Royal Oak — named for a group of vessels in Britain’s Royal Navy, according to legend — was also unorthodox for its material. Though stainless steel is a ubiquitous option on watches today, in the early 1970s its use was visionary. The Royal Oak was the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from the durable material — a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.
Stainless steel also allowed for a more integrated connection between case and band, paving the way for the seamless bracelet-style bands that have since been adopted by nearly every watchmaker. The knit-like design of the Royal Oak’s band is echoed by the original model's trademark tapisserie dial, a guilloché backdrop achieved by a precise engraving process. The textural element, paired with the Royal Oak’s sturdy steel and delicate yet industrial screws, gives the timepiece a unique combination of elegance and weight.
Arguably the most prolific freelance watch designer in history, Genta designed timepieces for Omega, Patek Philippe, Cartier and Bulgari, to name a few, but the Royal Oak remains one of his most influential. Since the debut of the original, Audemars Piguet has continued to issue new collections of the style, including men’s and women’s versions in yellow and pink gold, models encircled with diamonds and many more.
Audemars Piguet
The story of celebrated family-owned manufacturer Audemars Piguet and its universally acclaimed, widely coveted luxury watches begins deep in the Jura Mountains in western Switzerland.
The Vallée de Joux has been a haven of watchmaking since the late 18th century, when the residents of farming communities began creating timepieces during the winter months.
Jules Louis Audemars (1851–1918) and Edward Auguste Piguet (1853–1919), both natives of the region, were already deeply entrenched in the world of watchmaking when they joined forces to form a new house of horology near the end of the 19th century, an alliance that would be the start of a multigenerational family company. With complementary specialties within the field, Audemars and Piguet made the perfect pair in 1875: Audemars, the more technically minded of the two, oversaw production, while Piguet specialized in quality control and led the business and marketing parts of the outfit.
Audemars Piguet’s first major milestone came in 1892, when it created the world’s first minute-repeating movement for a wristwatch. (It was sold to Omega, whose origins date to 1848.) That was soon followed in 1899 with the Universelle pocket watch, a masterpiece of horology that boasted a perpetual calendar, minute repeater, alarm and chronograph with jumping seconds. It is still said to be the most complicated timepiece that Audemars Piguet has ever designed.
Between 1918 and 1919, both founders of Audemars Piguet had died and were replaced by their respective sons, incidentally both named Paul. Under the leadership of Paul Louis Audemars and Paul Edward Piguet, the watchmaker continued to innovate. It retained an ever-evolving technical focus and found new praise for its efforts, producing the world’s thinnest pocket-watch caliber in 1925, the first skeletonized pocket watch in 1934 and the world’s thinnest wristwatch in 1946.
When the quartz crisis of the 1970s left many watchmakers in the lurch, Audemars and Piguet found a creative solution, tapping the Geneva-born Gérald Genta to conceive the first-ever luxury watch in stainless steel. Launched at what would become the Baselworld watch and jewelry fair in 1972, the Royal Oak, with its octagonal face and integrated bracelet, would come to define the look of Audemars Piguet and revolutionize the luxury wristwatch industry, setting a standard that continues to this day.
Find a collection of vintage Audemars Piguet wristwatches and pocket watches on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Miami, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Audemars Piguet 26401RO Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 18k Rose Gold WatchBy Audemars PiguetLocated in Miami, FLBrand: Audemars Piguet Model: Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph REF: 26401RO Case: 18k Rose Gold Case size: 44mm Bezel: Ceramic Strap: Rubber Buckle: 18k Rose GoldCategory
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ladies Watch with Factory Diamond Bezel REF 15451STBy Audemars PiguetLocated in Miami, FLBrand: Audemars Piguet Model: Royal Oak Ref: 15451ST Movement: Automatic Case Size: 37mm Material: Stainless Steel Year: 2022 Bezel: Factory Diamonds Dial: Black Ta...Category
2010s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Stainless Steel
- Rolex Datejust Presidential 26mm in 18k Yellow Gold REF 6917By RolexLocated in Miami, FLBrand: Rolex Model Name: Datejust 26 Model Number: 6917 Movement: Mechanical Automatic Case Size: 26 mm Case Material: 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet: Presidential Dial: Champagne ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Cartier Ballon Bleu 18k Rose Gold 33mm Watch REF 3003By CartierLocated in Miami, FLBrand: Cartier Model: Ballon bleu Ref: 3003 Movement: Automatic Case Size: 36 mm Material: Rose Gold Features: Date Crystal: Sapphire Dial: Silver Guilloche Inclu...Category
2010s French Modern Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold
- Cartier Tank Americaine 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Case Ref. 811905By CartierLocated in Miami, FLBrand: Cartier Model Name: Tank Americaine Model Number: 811905 Movement: Automatic Case Size: 23 mm Case Back: Closed Case Material: Yellow Gold Bezel: Yellow Gold/Diamonds ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Yellow Gold
- Rolex Daytona Cosmograph Ref. 116528 Blue Dial 18k Yellow Gold WatchBy RolexLocated in Miami, FLBrand: Rolex Model Name: Daytona Reference: 116528 Metal: 18k Yellow Gold Case Size: 40 mm Case Back: Closed Strap: 18k Yellow Gold Dial: Blue Hour Markers: Arabic Numerals Features: Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Chronograph, Includes: 24 Month Brilliance Jewels Warranty Rolex Watch Box Both beautiful and eye-catching, this Rolex Daytona Ref. 116528 with a blue dial is perfect to wear with anything. The 116528 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in yellow gold features a blue dial with a contemporary spin via large luminous Arabic markers in yellow gold surrounds and red accents. The result is a dial that sporty yet sophisticated. Rolex pairs...Category
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Audemars Piguet Royal 18k yellow gold Quartz Wristwatch Ref 6005BABy Audemars PiguetLocated in Surfside, FLAudemars Piguet Jumbo Royal Oak Rectangular in 18k yellow gold. Quartz. Measures 35mm long (lug to lug) by 32mm wide. With service box. Ref 6005B...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold, 18k Gold
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 18k Gold WatchBy Audemars PiguetLocated in New York, NYAudemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44mm 18k Gold Watch worn maybe twice 2021 model 41mm ceramic bezel Complete set box and papersCategory
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold
- Cartier Pasha Ref 1353 Chronograph 18K Yellow Gold 35mm Leather StrapBy CartierLocated in San Diego, CAStyle Number: 1353 Model: Pasha Case Material: 18K Yellow Gold Band: Leather Bezel: 18K Yellow Gold Dial: Dark Grey Face: Sapphire Crystal Case Size: 35mm Include...Category
2010s Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 18k yellow gold & stainless steel Automatic WristwatchBy Audemars PiguetLocated in Surfside, FLAudemars Piguet Royal Oak in 18k yellow gold and stainless steel with rare white dial. Auto w/ date. 36 mm case size. With box, papers and booklets. Circa 2002. **Bank wire only at t...Category
Early 2000s Wrist Watches
MaterialsStainless Steel, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 18K Rose Gold Men's WatchBy Audemars PiguetLocated in New York, NYAudemars Piguet Royal Oak 41mm 18K Rose Gold Men's Watch comes with Original Box excellent condition!! runs perfect! free overnight ins...Category
2010s European Art Deco Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Midsize 56175TR Tantalum & 18k Rose Gold 33mmBy Audemars PiguetLocated in London, GBPre-owned, excellent condition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tantalum & 18k Rose Gold Midsize wristwatch. Grey dial, baton hour markers, a Tantalum 33mm case, an 18k Rose Gold bezel and ...Category
Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold