
Sharon Chan
Head of department, Director of Watches, Asia
HK$220,000 - HK$440,000
Our Watches specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistHead of department, Director of Watches, Asia
Senior Specialist
Specialist
Senior Business Associate
The Royal Oak, an iconic model released by Audemars Piguet in 1972, was designed by Gérald Genta, who also designed the Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 3700. The Royal Oak's design was a departure from Audemars Piguet's usual style, surprising the watch industry with its steel construction. The two-tone steel and tantalum reference 15000TT is a rare find, with only a few ever appearing at auction. Tantalum, a unique metal with a distinct color, is seldom used in watchmaking due to its challenging workability. It requires extremely high temperatures to be molded to specifications, but once adapted, it is highly durable and resistant to corrosion. The current lot is a beautiful example and given the extreme rarity of this model, with only 149 pieces having been produced in this configuration from 1996 to 2003, represents a rare opportunity for collectors to obtain this unusual version of the iconic timepiece.