Audemars Piguet. A rare and early stainless steel and 18K gold automatic calendar bracelet watch offered on behalf of the original owner Royal Oak Jumbo, Ref 5402SA, Circa 1975

Audemars Piguet. A rare and early stainless steel and 18K gold automatic calendar bracelet watch offered on behalf of the original owner
Model: Royal Oak JumboReference: 5402SADate: Circa 1975Movement: 36-jewel Cal.2121/1 automatic, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism & 5 positions, 21K gold rotor segment, No.173589Dial: Grey tapisserie grid, applied gilt baton hour markers with luminous inserts, white outer minute divisions, champagne date aperture at 3, gilt baton hands with luminous insertsCase: Brushed and polished tonneau form, gold bezel with 8 screws, No.169, B18907Strap/Bracelet: Integral brushed steel and gold linkBuckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp, stamped W12Signed: Case, dial & movement Size: 38.5mm Accompaniments: Audemars Piguet box, blank certificate of origin and guarantee, service receipt dated 03/08/22, original bracelet replaced during recent service, 4 spare links, brochures

When Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak in the early 1970s, the whole Swiss watchmaking industry was suffering an agony brought by the introduction of quartz watches. However, the Royal Oak soon became the life saver and keystone for Audemars Piguet, and furthermore revolutionized the industry with the new notion of "high-end sport watch".The first Royal Oak was given the reference 5402 and was produced in four series - A, B, C and D. Initially 1000 'A' series pieces were produced and in a little over a year were all sold before being followed up by a further 1000 pieces. Shortly after this they moved onto the 'B' series, of which the current lot is an example, and it is believed there were again only around 2000 pieces made.