Case size: 35 mm
Material: steel
Movement: automatic, caliber 2325
Year: circa 1980
Crystal: sapphire crystal
Bracelet: integrated original bracelet, folding clasp
Reference number: 14100ST
Movement number: 764'866
Case number: B20916/ 893
The movement replaced during service. Wear due to age and use.
The movement is running at the time of cataloguing, Bukowskis does not guarantee the future function of the movement. Please note that the movement has not been tested for timekeeping accuracy and may need a service at the buyer's expense. Watches have been opened to examine movements therefore no warranties are made that the watches are water-resistant. Potential buyers should inspect each watch to satisfy themselves as to condition. For more information, please read our Conditions of Purchase.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak first appeared in 1972 and quickly changed the way people thought about luxury watches. Designed by the acclaimed watchmaker Gérald Genta, the original Royal Oak (reference 5402) stood out for two main reasons. First, it was made of steel at a time when most high-end watches were crafted in gold or other precious metals. Second, it featured a bold, octagonal bezel and an integrated bracelet, elements that were both practical and visually striking.
A few years later, Audemars Piguet introduced a slightly smaller model known as the Royal Oak 4100 or 14100 (By the early 1980s, the brand transitioned to five-digit references, and the 4100 became known as the 14100, though it remained virtually unchanged in appearance.). Measuring 35 mm instead of the 5402’s 39 mm, this new size was designed to fit slimmer wrists. In fact, the brand’s 1978 Basel Fair press kit highlighted that very point. Unlike the original 5402, which only had hour and minute hands, the 4100 included a center seconds hand, making it easier to read precise times at a glance.
The 4100ST also inherited the Royal Oak’s signature “Tapisserie” dial, a textured pattern that catches the light and emphasizes the watch’s refined craftsmanship. Over the course of its production, Audemars Piguet made 2,721 units of the steel version.