Its been 45 years since the creation of the originalAudemars Piguet Royal Oakand this now classic piece, is more popular than ever. First unveiled byAudemars Piguetin the 1970s and designed by , who incidentally designed thePatek Philippe Nautilus amongst others, thehas become a cultural icon due to its distinctive features and its role as a pioneer for high-end luxury sports watches.

The early 1970s was a time of great change within the watch industry, where the concept of a luxury watch in steel was a truly revolutionary idea. This example, theref.14700, was produced for a short period of time, in the early 1990s, as an alternative to the, with a reduced diameter of 36mm (over 39mm). As with allAudemars Piguet Royal Oakexamples, the mid-sizeRoyal Oakdesign features an integrated case and bracelet, with angular, bevelled and polished edges, famously penned by Gerald Genta.

In the same way Patek Philippe introduced a mid-size version of its emblematic Nautilus with the, Audemars Piguet did the same with the Royal Oak. The ref. 14700 is somewhat of an obscure reference,available for a short period of time, as a transitional model between the more widely produced references 4100 and 14790. With relatively few examples having surfaced, this specific watchis numbered'328'on the caseback, indicating its position in the sequence of production.

As with allAudemars Piguet Royal Oakexamples, the reference14700features an integrated case and bracelet, with angular, bevelled and polished edges, famously penned by Gerald Genta. In many ways, the reference14700is a scaled-down version of the original reference5402, retaining many of the same features, such as thePetite Tapisserie dial, and overall proportions. Interestingly, the dial on the ref. 14700 measures 1mm less than the dial on the original Royal Oak, the ref. 5402. As a result, the watch wears larger than its proportions would otherwise suggest, giving it an important visual presence on the wrist.

The polished screws, bezel and case edges fantastically contrast with the brushed surface of the case and bracelet. At 36mm in diameter, and only 7.8mm thick, thisRoyal Oakcase is a beautiful twist of perspectives and size. It comes with its original bracelet and deployant clasp, featuring the hallmark of famed bracelet makerGay Frres,who produced bracelets for the original Nautilus and Royal Oak. Thanks to the slim profile of the case and bracelet, theref.14700hugs the wrist, in a way that is both supremely comfortable, yet distinctively elegant and characterful.

Thisref. 14700 retains the more understatedPetite Tapisseriepattern on the dial, forming the square and lozenge motif, as seen in earlier executions of theRoyal Oak. Newer versions of theRoyal Oakhave since adoptedAPs bolderTapisserie Evolutivedial pattern, less faithful to the original design. It also features the more traditional Audemars Piguet font, reminiscent of early Royal Oak watches.

TheRoyal Oak 14700STis powered by the ultra-thinAP caliber 2225, derived fromJaeger-LeCoultres JLC 889calibre movement. Formed of 280 components, the 40-jewel movement is rhodium-plated, with fausses ctes embellishment.

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