Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph, 2010s — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph, 2010s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Audemars Piguet (maker)
Date: 2010s
Historical period: Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Case 38 mm
Dealer: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Stock no.: 40990533
Credit line: Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40990533)
Catalogue title (original): Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph (English)

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

Record summary

Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40990533), this is a wristwatch by Audemars Piguet, made in Switzerland, dated 2010s. The Atlas places it in the Contemporary Horology period (2010 – Present) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 38 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 — Analog/Shift

One name: Gerald Genta. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is perhaps Genta’s most memorable work, and in many ways changed the shape of the watch industry. The Royal Oak essentially created an entirely new category of 'luxury sport' timepieces, and with it came a new design language which inspired countless other manufactures. What's particularly delightful about the design of the Royal Oak is that it works brilliantly in a number of sizes and casing materials, from steel to carbon fiber or solid gold. This particular Royal Oak is a chronograph model, Reference 26315ST.OO.1256ST.02. Housed in a 38mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal and a signed crown, it features a ruthenium-toned Grand Tapisserie dial with white gold applied indices, a matching baton handset, a date wheel at 4:30, and a triple-register chronograph layout including 30-minute, running seconds, and 12-hour counters. Powered by the Audemars Piguet Calibre 2835 automatic movement, it comes paired to an integrated steel bracelet with an AP-signed folding clasp. Dating to the 2010s, this Royal Oak is in virtually unworn condition and comes with much of its ephemera. With ROs trading for many multiples of retail these days, this is a rare opportunity to pick one up amidst the feeding frenzy that is the luxury sports watch market. Don’t sleep on this one!

Historical context

Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)

Silicon components, connected watches, optical-lattice research clocks and a thriving independent scene.

Smartwatches became the world's best-selling watches, while mechanical watchmaking focuses on craft, innovation (silicon components, new escapements) and independent makers.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Mechanical Renaissance

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Self-winding (automatic) mechanism — Component

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Analog/Shift — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph, 2010s." Analog/Shift (dealer), New York, 40990533. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/audemars-piguet-royal-oak-chronograph-6c6978.