50 years ago, Audemars Piguet presented the Royal Oak, seen as the first sports watch in stainless steel. Dreamt up in just one night by experienced jeweller and proven watch designer Gérald Genta, this timepiece stands out for its totally innovative esthetics  overthrowing the codes of traditional "Haute Horlogerie". Unveiled on April 15th, 1972, at the Baselworld Watch Fair, the Royal Oak had the effect of an earthquake.

The Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet was a total surprise. Firstly because it was made of stainless steel (an industrial material) at a time when luxury watches were only made of gold or platinum, but also because its shape was not round but… octagonal! With a bezel attached by eight visible screws to a case 39 mm in diametre (36 mm rarely being exceeded at the time), itself integrated into the bracelet, and its extra-slim self-winding movement (then the thinnest in the world), the Royal Oak was truly astonishing for everyone in the watchmaking world.

Today, the Royal Oak is a collection in its own right, comprised of diverse and varied styles, dimensions, materials and movements. In fact, since its creation, this icon of watchmaking has been presented in more than 500 models for both men and women. For the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary, Swiss manufacturer Audemars Piguet has unveiled exclusive new models all year long, benefiting from last-generation movements and thus paying tribute to half a century of innovation and creativity. Royal Oak Extra-Slim Skeleton "Jumbo", Royal Oak Frosted Gold Automatic Chronograph, Royal Oak Automatic Skeleton Flying Tourbillon, Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar… All references that push limits back even further in design and precision, anchoring the Royal Oak collection even more firmly in modernity.