With 2022 in front of us and thus the disruptive 1st steel sportswatch icon AP Royal Oak becoming 50 years old, it is time for a big review of Gentas work and Sothebys does so in spring, for sure. We dont want to come empty handed and so we added the obvious ancestor to the preliminary Royal Oak design, presented by the Gerald Genta Heritage.

Our addition is an Audemars Piguet from 1970, so two years prior to the famous Genta draft. It is powered by the same popular caliber2121 (based on the JLC cal920) and instead of being made of rather cheap steel it is crafted in 18K white gold with an artwork polonaise-bracelet hand-made by the super-star of bracelets: Jean-Pierre Ecoffey JPE. But not only the integrated bracelet character moved to the initial Royal Oak sketch of Genta but also the wonderful tapering of the bracelet.

So, gold became steel and diamonds became bolts -- but either we have another octagonal design for AP by Genta here or it is a relevant inspiration of the celebrated designer.

Party on.