Audemars Piguet Royal Oak men watch.

When Audemars Piguet Royal Oak made its debut in the watchmaking industry with reference 5402, it immediately upended the established order and ushered in a new age of luxury sports timepieces. This classic watch has evolved over time into a number of enticing designs, each of which offers unmatched functionality and seamless wearability. This reference, 26331ST.OO.1220ST.03, is comparable.

This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is a great example of the collection’s amazing development. Its case has a fixed, screw-detailed bezel and is a noteworthy 41 mm in diameter. The crown is robust, with chronograph pushers and guards on either side. With vertical brushing throughout and a grainy texture in the middle of the caseback, which is tastefully engraved with the watch’s namesake, the case’s workmanship is superb. The bevelled edges, 11mm thickness and the recognisable octagonal shape explain why the Royal Oak is not only a functional but a design champion as well.

The dial on this reference 26331ST.OO.1220ST.03 further solidifies the watch’s stance as an aesthetically-appealing icon from the maison. It is designed with a visually stunning ‘Grande Tapisserie’ pattern in a covetable Panda style. The three sub-counters boast a contrasting black profile, while the applied hour indexes are executed in white gold. In addition, the hands are finished with a luminous coating.

The movement selected for this reference is calibre 2385, a self-winding mechanical movement constructed with 37 jewels. It features a vertical clutch and provides a long power reserve of 40 hours.