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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Jumbo" B-Series

5402ST

£48,950

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Now available, an exceptional Audemars Piguet Royal Oak reference 5402ST "B-Series", complete with its Extract from the Archives confirming registration in August 1976.

Few watches have shaped modern watchmaking quite like the Royal Oak. When Gérald Genta unveiled the reference 5402 in 1972, the idea of a luxury stainless steel sports watch was almost unimaginable. More than fifty years later, it remains the blueprint for every integrated-bracelet sports watch that followed. To own an early 5402 is to own one of the most important references ever produced, and amongst collectors, the early A, B and C Series examples continue to represent the most desirable chapter of the Royal Oak story.

This B-Series example is everything we hope to find. Its original petite tapisserie dial has developed the most beautiful warmth over the years, with subtle bronzing around the hour markers adding genuine character without distracting from the watch's crisp overall appearance. The case retains wonderfully sharp bevels and beautifully defined original proportions throughout. Equally impressive is the bracelet, which remains exceptionally tight with virtually no stretch, something becoming increasingly difficult to find on a Royal Oak approaching its fiftieth birthday. Whilst the original dial and hands remain, the crown was replaced during an Audemars Piguet manufacturer service in 2020 to preserve water resistance.

A charming detail lies within both the Extract from the Archives and the watch itself. Registered in August 1976, this example also bears the serial "No B 1976" - a wonderful coincidence and exactly the sort of nuance collectors appreciate. Beautifully preserved, wonderfully honest and complete with its Extract from the Archives, this is an outstanding opportunity to acquire one of the defining watches of the twentieth century. The watch is available for viewing in London and purchase worldwide. Please get in touch for further information.