Who designed Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, launched in 1972?

Gerald Genta designed Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, launched in 1972.

The Royal Oak became one of the defining luxury sports watches of the 20th century. Its octagonal bezel, exposed screws and integrated bracelet gave it a notably industrial appearance at a time when luxury watches were usually slimmer and more traditionally styled.

Audemars Piguet introduced the watch at the 1972 Basel fair. The original reference 5402ST used stainless steel but was priced like a precious-metal watch, making its positioning especially unusual. Its design helped establish the idea that a steel sports watch could occupy the high-luxury segment.

Genta also designed influential watches for other manufacturers, including the Patek Philippe Nautilus. The Royal Oak is sometimes confused with later Royal Oak Offshore models, but the Offshore is a separate, larger collection introduced in 1993.