203 Audemars Piguet Highly Rare and Extremely Well Preserved, Royal Oak, Automatic Wristwatch in Steel and Gold, Grey Dial, Retailed by Fred, Reference 5402 SA

Estimate: € 35,000 –⁠ 70,000

Model: Royal Oak
Reference: 5402SA
Case Material: Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel
Bracelet Material: Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel
Year: 1982
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 2121
Case N°: B27426, N°348
Movement N°: 175 393
Dimensions: 39 mm
Signed: Dial, Case and Movement
Accessories: Extract from the Archives

The Royal Oak represented a real novelty in the Audemars universe as it was the brand’s first true sporting pride. It was the first luxury watch in steel with integrated bracelet and since its inception was produced in a variety of materials including full gold, platinum, tantalum, and often embellished with precious stones, the versatility of the Royal Oak helped make it a model adored by the brand’s elite clientele. The present watch is a very rare example of the two-tone reference 5402 in stainless steel and yellow gold. Its remarkable conservation strikes at a first glance with no evident sign on both the bracelet and on the case with the iconic octagonal bezel. The grey dial with applied baton indexes and hands is beautiful and further special quality of this lot since it’s one of the most rare variants to be found. On the case back to the serial number 348 and the unusual inscription “OR—ACIER” and “FRED”. Fred Joaillier, more commonly known as Fred, is a French jewelry and watch brand founded in 1936 by Fred Samuel in Paris and operated by the company “Fred Paris”. The company has more than fifty of its own shops worldwide and various retail outlets in some thirty countries and signed orders for various dynasties around the world, such as the royal family of Nepal in the 1950s, the royal family in Monaco in the 1960s as well as Middle Eastern princes between 1970 and 1990.