Audemars Piguet is one of the well-known brands in the field of luxury watchmaking. Although there have been many different AP models over the years, with the emergence of new versions and the continuous advancement of technology, a few products can maintain strong popularity. One of the best examples of this is the Royal Oak series.

In this article, we will have a deeper understanding of the Royal Oak series, explore its history, and at the same time have a deeper understanding of model updates over the years and the most popular watches in the history of the series.

A brief history of AP Royal Oak watches

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection was launched at the Swiss Watch Fair in 1972, which later became known as the Basel Watch Fair. It was released in the context of Swiss luxury watch manufacturers’ increasing attention to “quartz” technology, and is widely regarded as the world’s first luxury sports watch.

The defining features of the Royal Oak include a hexagonal bezel and exposed screw heads. The overall design is inspired by traditional diving helmets. The first model introduced was the Royal Oak Ref. The 5402ST is equipped with a 39 mm case with a thickness of only 7 mm, which helps to provide a sophisticated and luxurious feel to sports watches, which has always been exclusive to luxury formal watches.

This model also introduces the self-winding Calibre 2121 movement, which has excellent accuracy, shock resistance and is fully integrated with the timepiece’s date display function. In the years since, various new complications have been introduced, including perpetual calendar and moon phase indicator options.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak model update
If you want to buy an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak model, your main choices can be divided into three different generations. In the following section, you can find more information about these, and with the release of new model updates, you can better understand the recent evolution of the Royal Oak.

Royal Oak Reference 15300ST | 15300OR
Royal Oak Reference. The 15300ST was first put on the market in 2005 and has been in production until 2012. It uses the low-beat Calibre 3120 movement and is available in stainless steel and rose gold. Available in black, blue and white dial colors, the case diameter is 39 mm, which is very suitable for people with thin wrists.

From a visual point of view, one of the iconic features of this generation of Royal Oak watches is the placement of a large “AP” logo on the dial mark at 12 o’clock. This watch also uses an old-style buckle, which also has a large AP logo. At the same time, another key feature is that the model can resist water up to 50m deep.

An interesting element of the Royal Oak Ref. The 15300ST is its oscillator, with the Audemars and Piguet family crests under the AP logo. The Audemars Piguet family coat of arms consists of a castle tower, a bird and three stars, and the Piguet family coat of arms also has three stars and a horse with a sword.

Royal Oak Reference 15400ST | 15400OR
Reference in Royal Oak. The 15400ST was launched in 2012 and has been in production until 2017. The most obvious difference between this model and the previous generation is the increased case size. The diameter of Ref. 15400ST is 41 mm instead of 39 mm. The thickness of the case has also increased slightly, from 9.4 mm to 9.8 mm. Therefore, this is a good choice for buyers who have larger wrists or who just like larger watches.

In addition to the size difference, Ref. 15400ST does have similarities to its predecessor, including the choice of stainless steel or rose gold case. Both watches also use the same Calibre 3120 movement. However, because the same movement is housed in a larger case, the date window is located in a more central position.

Another way of Ref. Visually, 15400ST and Ref. 15300ST have a dial marking at 12 o’clock. This is because the “AP” logo is significantly smaller and located under the dial. This watch is also equipped with a modern folding clasp, replacing the old clasp with a larger logo.

Again, the dial color options include blue, black and white, and a slate dial is also added. For the rose gold version, Ref. 15400OR, there is a choice of black or white dials.

Royal Oak Reference 15500ST | 15500OR
The newest member of the Royal Oak series is the Royal Oak Ref. 15500ST, which was launched in 2019, which is still in production. It retains the larger 41 mm case size introduced through Ref. 15400ST and has the same modern style AP folding clasp. However, there are some significant differences, especially internal differences.

Perhaps the most important change is the introduction of Calibre 4302, an automatic movement that is also used in Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 watches. Thanks to the skeletonized movement oscillator, the movement can be displayed, and since the movement is larger than the Calibre 3120, the date display is again close to the edge of the dial, similar to the Ref. 15300ST.

Once again, you can choose stainless steel or rose gold case materials. However, it is worth noting that Ref. 15500OR only offers a black dial, while Ref. 15500ST is available in blue, black, slate and silver.

Which AP Royal Oak should you buy?
If you are looking for an elegant timepiece, or want to understand the history of the Audemars Piguet brand, then the old Ref. 15300 or 15400 models may be the ideal choice. They have a reliable movement and have been in use for more than 20 years. The smaller size of Ref. The 15300 is great for smaller wrists, while the 15400 is bigger and bolder.

On the other hand, if you are looking for the best watch, the latest Ref. 15500 is equipped with the latest updated movement and will provide you with reliable service for many years to come. In the end, whatever you choose, be sure to buy on www.moon-watch.co, because we have all these watches and are ready to ship them at the best price.