AUDEMARS PIGUET | 'A-SERIES' ROYAL OAK, REF 5402STAINLESS STEEL WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND BRACELETCIRCA 1972

Dial: grey tapisserie Calibre: cal. 2121 automatic, 36 jewels Movement number: 127'694 Case: stainless steel, bezel and back secured by 8 screws Case number: A462, 67'462 Closure: stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak bracelet and Gay Frères folding clasp Dimensions: 39 mm, bracelet circumference approx. 185 mm Signed: case, dial and movement Accessories: none

MVT: is running at the time of cataloguing and the date advancing. According to our research, the present movement number 127'694 was originally sold with the case A459 and was later put into the present watch with case number A462. CASE: in good condition with metal-brushed finishing and crisp numbers on the back. There are signs of polishing and there is surface wear visible with the naked eye. The attractive Gay Frères bracelet is in good condition with some warping and surface wear. DIAL: in attractive condition with fine brown spotting visible. The luminous material on the indexes has aged uniformly and still reacts evenly under UV light, fading right after exposure. Please note that the movement has not been tested for the accuracy of time and may need a service at the buyer's expense. Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement and we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. You are advised that watch straps or bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator or crocodile) are not sold with the watch and we reserve the right to remove these straps or bands prior to shipping. Furthermore, the watch may not come with its original manufacturers strap or band. Prospective bidders should review the Conditions of Business, Authenticity Guarantee, the Guide for Prospective Buyers, and any Important Notice in the sale catalogue.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Developed during the quartz crisis which strongly hit the Swiss watch industry in the late 1960s and beginning of the 1970s, the Royal Oak revolutionised the industry and created a new category: 'stainless steel sports watches'. The novelty, designed by Gérald Genta, coincided with the tendency for less ostentatious watches as the focus had shifted towards understatement and quality. The Royal Oak was an all-purpose watch that was the perfect fit for different occasions, ranging from daily use to formal occasions.   Inspired, perhaps erroneously, by the look of a diving-suit helmet, the monobloc case along with the octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet, create an aesthetically appealing design that makes this watch such an emblematic model which is sought after by collectors everywhere. 

The reference 5402 can be divided into four series, distinguished by the letters A, B, C and D in front of the case numbers and, not surprisingly, the 'A-Series' is the most sought-after by collectors. The present example has the low case number A462 engraved on the back and comes with a rare Royal Oak bracelet made by the famed manufacturer Gay Frères. According to our research, the present movement number 127'694 was originally sold with the case A459 and was later put into the present watch with case number A462.