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AP Royal Oak Automatic, ref. 14332SA, 1980s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

AP Royal Oak Automatic, ref. 14332SA, 1980s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Audemars Piguet (maker)
Date
1980s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Materials / technique
18k Yellow Gold
Dimensions
Diameter 36.5 mm
Stock no.
CUR99
Credit line
Dealer listing, Watches of Knightsbridge (CUR99)
Catalogue title (original)
AP Royal Oak Automatic 14332SA (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Watches of Knightsbridge (dealer), London (stock number CUR99), this is a wristwatch by Audemars Piguet, made in Switzerland, dated 1980s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: 18k Yellow Gold. Recorded dimensions: Diameter 36.5 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Watches of Knightsbridge

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Automatic steel & gold, reference 14332SA, circa 1980s. This rare reference features a 36.5mm case diameter and grey “Petite Tapisserie” dial. Overall the watch remains in excellent original condition with tight bracelet.

Specifications — Watches of Knightsbridge

Reference: 14332SA; Metal: 18k Yellow Gold; Movement: Automatic; Case diameter: 36.5mm; Bracelet/strap: Original AP Royal Oak Bracelet W/ Flip Lock Clasp

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Automatic (self-winding) watches

Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.

What to look for

  • A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
  • 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
  • A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.

Dating clues

  • Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
  • Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
  • Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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