Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 6009ST

AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK 6009ST
Steel | Rectangular Quartz Royal Oak

Origin

The Audemars Piguet Manufacture was founded in 1875 in Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux, by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward August Piguet. Two young entrepreneurs grown up in the cradle of fine watchmaking in the Swiss Jura, born into a generation of watchmakers and passioned about rare complications and their horological roots.

From the early days on, Audemars Piguet produced some fine mechanical timepieces such as minute-repeaters, perpetual calendars and ultra-thin self-winding movements, receiving recognition from far beyond the valley. By the 1970’s the Swiss manufacturer was already well established amongst connoisseurs alike, but it was during the following years of the quartz crisis that the watch brand made itself immortal.

While most traditional watchmakers were struggling to stay relevant, Audemars Piguet shook the market with a bold move: the introduction of the Royal Oak in 1972 at Baselworld – the first luxury sports watch in steel, created by the legendary designer Gérald Genta.

It has been estimated that a mere thousand Swiss watch companies did not survive the quartz crisis – with two thirds of the workforce being laid off – yet Audemars Piguet documentation shows that the yearly production increased from 9,500 to 11,000 pieces during those years (1974-1984). This revolutionary success can be greatly attributed to the Royal Oak line, an instant icon made to last.

The Watch

This classic rectangular Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is an exceptionally rare quartz watch, produced in the period of 1980-1985, making this watch circa 40 years old. The case measures 28mm by 38mm. The rectangular design was to mark the introduction of the quartz movement integrated in the Royal Oak collection for the first time. 

The bold black dial in Petite Tapisserie pattern, a signature choice for the Royal Oak collection, features grey gold baton hands, grey gold applique indices and the grey gold AP logo at 12. Audemars Piguet is written on the dial in an old font, underling the vintage feel of this Royal Oak. An integrated component bracelet with deployant clasp and ‘AP’ signed clasp cover provides secure comfortability and delicate hand-finishing, that was earlier unseen on durable sport watches.

An example of this exquisite finishing is the ‘quartz’ engraving on the caseback of the watch. Its ultra-thin profile in combination with the flat sapphire crystal and rounded edges of the case, extending to the profile of the bracelet, give this piece a very elegant look. This is only enhanced by the varied textures of the watch – polished notches and an overall brushed finish – with its angular, bevelled and polished edges throughout. 

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak has been produced mainly in bicolor editions, a fashion choice in the eighties. Steel variants, like this one, are considered to be limited nowadays.

The Movement

Quartz was used for the first time in the 70s and revolutionized the notions of horological precision. The original Audemars Piguet quartz movement, calibre 2502 is based on a regulator, the time-measuring element, consisting of a quartz crystal through which an electric current is passed. Time is divided into equal intervals by this resonator, vibrating at an exceptional high frequency (32’768 Hz).

Condition

This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 6009ST is in mint condition. Both the watch and its integrated bracelet, with full links and without stretch, are in mint condition. The set includes the original AP box, service box,  and the Audemars Piguet extract from archive.

If you desire to take a closer look at this precious timepiece, don't hesitate to contact us and make an appointment.