Audemars Piguet is marking an important passage of time with a 292-page tome that all watch enthusiasts will want to get their hands on. The new book, Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic Swiss luxury brand’s notable timepiece, the Royal Oak.
Published by Assouline and written by journalist Bill Prince, the coffee table book provides a deep dive into the watch’s design and the enduring legacy it still carries today. There’s also a peek into the time period when it debuted in 1972, as well as imagery of art, architecture, fashion, music and history throughout the decades since its launch as well.
According to a press release, “The book presents the Royal Oak’s history from a broader cultural perspective, while shedding light on new archival materials uncovered by Audemars Piguet’s Heritage department alongside exclusive testimonies of long-standing friends of the brand.”
If you’re unfamiliar with the significance of the watch’s release, the hand-finished stainless steel encasing had the thinnest self-winding mechanical movement of its era and ushered in a new style of sporty timepieces. According to the brand, it “anticipated a more active yet casual lifestyle, while heralding the beginning of a new high-end watchmaking era combining sportiness and refinement.”
Watch connoisseurs, who Prince calls the “Generation Royal Oak,” are also featured in the book and include actor and comedian Kevin Hart, architect Bjarke Ingels, supermodel Elle Macpherson, DJ, songwriter, and record producer Mark Ronson, tennis champion Serena Williams and swimmer Ning Zetao.
Whether you want to refresh your bookshelves or are thinking about what you’re gifting the watch-lover in your life this holiday season, this is just the thing that will excite all timepiece aficionados.
Shop Now: Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon, $250; assouline.com
