The Vast World of the Royal Oak

The luxury sports watch Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak is like a vast ocean in itself. If you are new to the Royal Oak, You may have wondered about things like, “Is the Jumbo model actually smaller than other lineups despite its name?” “They all look the same, So in what order were they released?” “Which models are current and which are discontinued?” The Royal Oak is a collection in itself, So the exploration process can only be complex.

VIVER Magazine would like to help you understand the Royal Oak more easily. If we group the most popular steel references (ST) among beginners by lineup and create a collection, The process of finding the right Royal Oak becomes much easier. We have organized the flagship, Unisex, Chronograph, And the evolution of the ‘Jumbo’ models, Which are the most traded in Korea, So you can see them at a glance. Please note that terms like flagship and unisex are not official from Audemars Piguet but are classifications added for user convenience.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Steel Model

Royal Oak Flagship (41mm)

This is the flagship collection most sought after by consumers new to the Royal Oak. Among the 41mm case Royal Oaks, It is the most affordable at retail, So demand is very high. This flagship collection started at 39mm in 2005 but changed to 41mm from 2012.

From left Royal Oak 15400ST, 15500ST /
ⓒ Watchvault, Ⓒ Watchclub

Royal Oak 15400ST (2012 ~ 2017)

This lineup became a turning point for the Royal Oak by blending modern and classic design. With the 15400 reference, The basic Royal Oak with only a date display maintained the 41mm size and adopted a double bar index at 12 o’clock. It is the last lineup in the flagship collection to have the AUTOMATIC inscription at 6 o’clock, So it continues to be loved by enthusiasts seeking a classic Royal Oak.

Royal Oak 15400ST.OO.1220ST.03

41mm, Blue

Royal Oak 15400ST.OO.1220ST.02

41mm, Silver

Royal Oak 15400ST.OO.1220ST.01

41mm, Black

Royal Oak 15500ST (2019 ~ 2022)

After a two-year gap, This lineup was produced for a short period with a new reference. The dial features a chapter ring (border above the index) and the five-minute indices are shorter. The AUTOMATIC inscription was removed and the AP logo and brand name were enlarged to fill the dial’s empty space.

Royal Oak 15500ST.OO.1220ST.01

41mm, Blue

Royal Oak 15500ST.OO.1220ST.02

41mm, Grey

Royal Oak 15510ST / ⓒ Audemarspiguet

Royal Oak 15510ST (2019 ~ 2022)

The latest lineup of the 41mm steel model boldly removed the AP logo. The chapter ring was soon eliminated, Making the dial design even more minimal. The empty space on the dial is balanced by longer and thicker bar indices.

Royal Oak 15510ST.OO.1320ST.06

41mm, Blue

Royal Oak 15510ST.OO.1320ST.08

41mm, Silver

The Icon of Royal Oak
‘Jumbo’ (39mm)

Royal Oak 5402 / ⓒ Corradomattarelli

Royal Oak Jumbo Original 5402

In fact, It is not an exaggeration to say that all Royal Oak lineups are derived from the ‘Jumbo’. The design that Gerald Genta created for AP in 1972, Which became the first Royal Oak, Is exactly what the Jumbo continues.

The name ‘Jumbo’ was given because the Royal Oak was much larger than typical watches when it was first released. To preserve the differentiated heritage of the Jumbo, Such as the bold octagonal bezel, Bracelet, And Tapisserie dial, Audemars Piguet has maintained the original design as much as possible since 2012.

Royal Oak 15202ST / ⓒ Watchclub

15202ST (2012 ~ 2021)

Alongside the Rolex Daytona and Patek Philippe Nautilus, This model led the luxury watch resale market boom. The Jumbo released in 2012 is a true heritage model. The AP logo at 6 o’clock, Ultra-thin movement cal. 2121, And the ‘Petite Tapisserie’ faithfully reproduce the look of the first Royal Oak. With its history and symbolism, It remains a representative Royal Oak model with a high premium in the resale market.

Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin 15202ST.OO.1240ST.01

39mm, Blue

Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin 15202ST.OO.0944ST.03

39mm, Blue

Royal Oak 16202ST / ⓒ Revolutionwatch

16202ST (2022 ~ )

After 50 years, The Royal Oak Jumbo has been equipped with a new movement. As it was released only recently, It is still very difficult to find in Korea. In overseas resale markets, It commands a price of over 100 million KRW, Showing its high demand and popularity.

Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin 16202ST.OO.1240ST.01

39mm, Blue, 50th Anniversary

Unisex (37mm)

This is the unisex lineup of the Royal Oak, Released together with the flagship collection which changed to 41mm in 2012. With a case size of 37mm, It is suitable for those who find the grandeur of the 41mm a bit overwhelming.

From left Royal Oak 15450ST, 15550ST /
ⓒ Ssongwatches, Ⓒ Audemarspiguet

15450ST (2012 ~ 2022)

Although it shares the design philosophy with the 15400 released in the same year, The bar index at 3 o’clock is shorter to accommodate the date window on the smaller dial.

15550ST (2022 ~ )

This is the latest lineup of the unisex collection released together with the 15510 in 2022. Like the 15510, The AP and AUTOMATIC inscriptions were removed from the dial for a simpler design. The relatively small dial makes it look larger and the Tapisserie pattern stands out even more. The basic dial colors of blue, Grey, And silver are complemented by a unique light blue.

Royal Oak 15450ST.OO.1256ST.01

37mm, Silver

Royal Oak 15450ST.OO.1256ST.02

37mm, Grey

Royal Oak 15550ST.OO.1356ST.04

37mm, Light Blue, 50th Anniversary

Royal Oak 15550ST.OO.1356ST.02

37mm, Blue, 50th Anniversary

Chronograph (41mm)

From left Royal Oak 26331ST, 26240ST /
ⓒ Watchclub, Ⓒ Revolutionwatch

26331ST (2017 ~ 2022)

This is the most frequently seen steel 41mm version of the Royal Oak Chronograph in the resale market. It adopted the chapter ring before the 15500 and the sub-dials contrast with the dial color to create a ‘panda’ style.

26240ST (2022 ~ )

The current version from 2022 retains the chapter ring unlike the basic date model, But the AP and AUTOMATIC inscriptions have been removed. The most distinct difference from the previous lineup is not in the text but in the sub-dials. The three sub-dials have been changed to monotone colors matching the dial.

Royal Oak Chronograph 26331ST.OO.1220ST.02

41mm, Black

Royal Oak Chronograph 26331ST.OO.1220ST.01

41mm, Blue

Royal Oak Chronograph 26240ST.OO.1320ST.05

41mm, Blue

Royal Oak Chronograph 26240ST.OO.1320ST.07

41mm, Silver

VIVER’s steel Royal Oak timeline. We hope this article, Which organizes another collection within the collection, Has been helpful. Some Royal Oak models are truly dream watches. We hope this opportunity helps you get to know the Royal Oak better and brings you one step closer to your dream watch. VIVER is cheering for you.