MK Personal Collection Very Rare Steel Jumbo Audemars Piguet Royal Oak A Series No 1574 Wristwatch Circa 1973

MK Personal Collection The present lot is part of a larger privately held collection and is intended for exhibition purposes only. Very Rare Steel Jumbo Audemars Piguet Royal Oak A Series No 1574 Wristwatch Circa 1973. This is a very fine and highly collectible men's over sized Royal Oak with a three body case construction, polished and brushed, octagonal bezel set with 8 hexagonal nuts embanked in 8 screws on the case back, angled lugs with a sapphire crystal that measures 39.00mm without the crown x 49mm lug to lug (case Serial # 80.5740. The watch has a high grade Swiss Audemars Piguet Cal. 2121, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration automatic movement with 36 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted for heat, cold isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, with a 21K gold segmented rotor in good running condition Serial # 146.468. The watch is topped with an original rare black, clous de Paris decoration dial with applied luminous steel baton indexes, date window at 3 o'clock. As you can see from the photos the watch is in overall excellent condition. It is accompanied with the original ultra rare original fitted box. These first "A" Series Royal Oaks stainless steel wristwatches have been highly sought after by collectors for decades. They were first produced in 1972. The Royal Oak was the most expensive steel wristwatch ever made. In fact it was so expensive most thought it would bankrupt Audemars and it was a huge hit. One of many for Gerald Genta Designs (1931-2011). He also created many amazing steel waterproof cases for Patek Philippe's including the Nautilus Jumbo in 1976, IWC's Classic Ingenieur. This model is a wonderful example of ultra high end watch companies using period cutting edge unusual designs in the most inexpensive metal in combination with the highest possible quality Swiss automatic movements. These watches really were made for the young active super wealthy pre-yuppies.