How the Royal Oak Watch Became a Cult Classic

[TheMethod]

From the NY Times (By ALEX WILLIAMS JAN. 4, 2016) :

Many iconic companies have tried to revolutionize their industries through groundbreaking design, only to end up taking a very public face-plant: Ford, with the Edsel; Apple, with the Newton; Google, with Google Glass.

That was the sort of risk that Audemars Piguet, the venerable Swiss watchmaker, took when it unveiled its Royal Oak in 1972. With its stark geometry and stainless-steel case, the futuristic Royal Oak seemed to anticipate the unloved DeLorean sports car more than the future of fine watchmaking.

And we know what happened with the DeLorean. (Yes, Marty McFly took one back to the future; the company also failed, just two years after the first cars were produced.)

That is why the success of the Royal Oak is so striking. Four decades later, the love-it-or-hate-it Royal Oak has become the ultimate cult watch, with vintage pieces commanding high prices at auction, new releases popping up on television shows and endless high-end variants becoming must-haves for the celebrity class.

With its octagonal bezel, exposed mounting screws and razor-sharp lines, the Royal Oak, as many of its devotees will attest, can be an acquired taste.

“When I first saw the Royal Oak, I thought it was ugly, too boxy, and awkward looking,” said Kevin Rose, the chief executive of Hodinkee, the watch site. “Then, after you spend enough time with it, you realize the funky-chunky-like design is really striking. It doesn’t look like every other watch, and that’s what makes it stand out.”

In a 2015 interview with The New York Times, the musician and avid watch collector John Mayer admitted that the Royal Oak looks “like a stop sign on your wrist.” But that day, he wore a Royal Oak Extra Thin in rose gold, which retails for $50,800, at the end of his tattoo sleeve.

The Royal Oak’s back story is oft told among watch nerds, since the watch was borne of an existential crisis in the industry.

Full article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/fa...-classsic.html

[ndrenfro]

Thanks for sharing! I certainly enjoy my Jumbo.

[tylerad1]

Nice article!

[texex91]

A classic it is...no doubt!

[AK797]

Was a game changer no doubt, epic watch really. A birth year is often on my mind.

[Le Chef]

The writer has got the historical inspiration for Genta mixed up between the Nautilus and the Royal Oak. The Nautilus was inspired by a diving helmet, the Royal Oak by the window design on an Elizabethan war ship called The Royal Oak.

Both a fabulous watches nevertheless.

[subtona]

Just read. Great little article.

You beat me to the posting:)


Love the last quote from the film “Chinatown”:

“Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.”

[eonflux]

Great article
Thanks for posting!
The RO design had really grown on me over the past year

[lapince]

"a love it or hate it…" don't think many people hate it, I find it great just have a little preference for the Patek version, but it is

[Billfav]

Always like seeing articles about our timepieces outside of the WIS world. Thanks for pointing it out.

[el1125]

40% of my watch collection consists of Royal Oaks and Nautiluses. Gerald Gentas designs have taken a small chunk of my funds 😳😜

[RussW]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

The writer has got the historical inspiration for Genta mixed up between the Nautilus and the Royal Oak. The Nautilus was inspired by a diving helmet, the Royal Oak by the window design on an Elizabethan war ship called The Royal Oak.

Both a fabulous watches nevertheless.

Sorry, the Royal Oak design was inspired by a diving helmet - see attached photo from AP's own Royal Oak book (apologies for image quality and it being upside down!).

[Le Chef]

https://www.thrillist.com/gear/audem...guet-royal-oak

[RussW]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

https://www.thrillist.com/gear/audem...guet-royal-oak

I respectfully disagree. The design came only from the diving helmet. Gerald Genta did not himself come up with the name. He designed the watch one night and the next morning it was presented to the Swiss and Italian markets. The Italian agent, Carlo De Marchi, suggested the name Royal Oak.

This information is from APs own book.

[Le Chef]

Then we agree to disagree. Too many sources that say otherwise.

[RussW]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

Then we agree to disagree. Too many sources that say otherwise.

So you don't want to believe AP's own literature

As far as I'm concerned AP is the source of the truth on this matter, anything else is rumour and misinformation.

[Jfbhd4]

Gerald genta designed both the ro and nautilus after seeing a vision from the Virgin Mary. Everyone knows that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wach16]

Originally Posted by Jfbhd4

Gerald genta designed both the ro and nautilus after seeing a vision from the Virgin Mary. Everyone knows that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Le Chef]

Originally Posted by RussW

So you don't want to believe AP's own literature

As far as I'm concerned AP is the source of the truth on this matter, anything else is rumour and misinformation.

I guess AP wrote about the fact that Genta had already shared the design for the Royal Oak with Bulova who had taken it into prototype? History is written by the winners, but it's rarely the complete story.

[Hairdude1]

Thanks for posting!

[Abdullasaif]

Originally Posted by RussW

Sorry, the Royal Oak design was inspired by a diving helmet - see attached photo from AP's own Royal Oak book (apologies for image quality and it being upside down!).

Yup 👍


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[h999r]

Awesome watch

[andycoph]

Thank you for sharing!

[Watcheroo]

Anyone other than me read the last part of the article as a bit of a jab against the watch?

"That’s one way to put it. Or you could just recall a line from the film “Chinatown”: “Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.”

So too, apparently, do avant-garde watches."

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Watcheroo

Anyone other than me read the last part of the article as a bit of a jab against the watch?

"That’s one way to put it. Or you could just recall a line from the film “Chinatown”: “Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.”

So too, apparently, do avant-garde watches."

Nope

[mdtddd2007]

Great watch!

[mater]

Originally Posted by Watcheroo

Anyone other than me read the last part of the article as a bit of a jab against the watch?

"That’s one way to put it. Or you could just recall a line from the film “Chinatown”: “Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.”

So too, apparently, do avant-garde watches."

Yes.

[psv]

Always meant to buy one...