{"product_id":"audemars-piguet-royal-oak-ref-15189st-pictet-cie-unpolished-w-leather-strap","title":"Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 15189ST - 'Pictet \u0026 Cie' Unpolished w\/ Leather Strap","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt’s not unfair to say that Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is one of the most iconic watches ever made. Designed in 1972 by Gerald Genta, the Royal Oak completely changed the way that we look at a steel sports watch. For the first time, stainless steel was treated as a precious metal - receiving complex finishing techniques of brushing, polishing, and beveling - all by hand. The idea that its eight hexagonal bezel screws would be finely finished and left exposed for the wearer to see was a revolutionary thought. It’s no surprise that the model became the calling card for the family owned Audemars Piguet - not to mention one of the most sought after watches in the world. While the initial 5402 was time-only, AP quickly began to capitalize on the success of the Royal Oak and begin to integrate other complications and variations into this case.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Royal Oak that we have here is something very special and exceedingly rare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDating to circa 2005, approximately 1,800 examples of this 'mid size' Ref. 15189ST were produced for the 200th anniversary of the Swiss bank 'Pictet \u0026amp; Cie.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNearly identical in overall construction to its much more well-known sibling, the Ref. 14790, this piece features a 36mm case with a matching integrated bracelet, a signed screw-down crown, and an automatic-winding movement within. The overall condition of this particular example is nothing short of outstanding, with strong and defined finishing present throughout, a 'stiff' bracelet, and showing only light signs of wear from gently use. Inside, it is the dial that visually separates this piece from its siblings. Silver in color, the center section of the dial feature a familiar 'tapisserie' textured surface, with a sunburst ring around the outside which bears the applied luminous indices and date aperture at 3 o'clock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is when you flip the watch over that its rarity reveals itself. The caseback is engraved with the name of the individual that it was presented to, as well as the bank's seal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost of these pieces were eventually fitted to bracelets, though they originally came on Audemars Piguet brown leather straps with a steel deployant clasp. This piece comes fitted with a period-correct bracelet as well as its original leather with matching clasp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis elusive edition of a beloved model is easily one of the rarest Royal Oaks that we have offered on the site, and an exemplary example at that.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oliver \u0026 Clarke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67723240374589,"sku":"OC3396","price":25450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/6138\/3741\/files\/AP_ROYAL_OAK_MID_WHT_WEB_1.jpg?v=1792439928","url":"https:\/\/oliverandclarke.com\/products\/audemars-piguet-royal-oak-ref-15189st-pictet-cie-unpolished-w-leather-strap","provider":"Oliver \u0026 Clarke Vintage Watches","version":"1.0","type":"link"}