Watch icon marks 50 years (but if you want one, you’ll have to wait)
If the king of watches is Rolex, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is surely the long-reigning queen. It’s a watch that’s maintained its looks, relevance and uber desirability for half a century.
Designer Gerald Genta was the man behind classic successes for brands ranging from Patek Philippe (Nautilus) to IWC (Ingenieur) and Bulgari (Bulgari Bulgari) to Omega, but none more so than a watch he was commissioned to come up with for Audemars Piguet in 1970.
As Genta recalled later, the brief – delivered by telephone – was for something “new and totally waterproof” and he duly set to work, pencilling it that night. His inspiration? The traditional diver’s helmet with its framed “portholes” secured by visible screws.
