Phillips to Host Thematic Auction In Celebration of the Royal Oak's 50th-Anniversary
Featuring 88 rare collectible Royal Oak models.
2022 marks the 50th-anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, and in celebration of the milestone, Phillips will be hosting an auction featuring some of the rarest models you can find.
Scheduled for May 6 at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva, “The Royal Oak 50th” auction will offer up 88 different, but all highly rare, examples of the legendary timepiece.
While Phillips hasn’t revealed the entire catalog yet, it’s given us a glimpse of what we can expect. Headliners so far include a black PVD-coated Royal Oak 5402 that was believed to have been owned by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, as well as a Royal Oak A2 known to be the second Royal Oak ever produced by Audemars Piguet and the earliest-number reference 5402 to ever go on auction. According to HODINKEE, it’s also one of the four original models that were presented at the Basel watch fair back in 1972.
With two months yet to go until the auction, watch enthusiasts should stay tuned for more updates and coverage to come.
Elsewhere in the world of horology, Jacob & Co. has crafted two Batman-themed twin triple-axis flying tourbillons.
