Audemars Piguet. A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date and tropical dial, Ref. 14800ST, No. 876, Royal Oak, circa 1994.
Movement: cal. 2125, automatic, 34 jewels, no. 393503.
Dial: tropical tapisserie, appied baton indexes, aperture for date, center seconds
Case: stainless steel, bezel and back secured by eight screws, D40259, stainless steel folding buckle.
Signed: case, dial, movement and buckle.
Dimensions: diameter 36mm.
£8,000-£12,000

Audemars Piguet launched their legendary Royal Oak model in 1972. They enlisted the help of the Swiss industrial designer Gerald Genta to create their first luxury steel sports watch. Its tonneau-shaped case with octagonal bezel, reminiscent of a ships porthole was completely different from the traditional round timepieces of the time. The name also continues the nautical theme - Royal Oak which were a series of eight British Royal Navy vessels.
The reference 14800ST which was released in 1994 was the first from the collection to feature a leather strap, its predecessors all instantly recognisable with their beautifully engineered full metal bracelets.
The 14800ST was promoted at the time as a reflection of the innermost values of the person who wears it, a fine timepiece for a true connoisseur.