Reference Points: Magazine Extra: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

For tor the 10th issue of HODINKEE Magazine, we did something we've done before: A Reference Points article. We decided to look at the history and evolution of one of the world's most famous and most desired timepieces - the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The Royal Oak, as any enthusiast knows, is not a single model. Rather, it's dozens upon dozens of models, both simple and complicated (sometimes extremely complicated), which AP has been making since the first Royal Oak was introduced in 1972.
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[@BigWoschech]

The term "jumbo" is used frequently but is never defined in the Video. What differentiates a jumbo from non-jumpo Royal Oak?

[@BenTramer]

Yeah it would have been nice for him to define Jumbo but my understanding is that a Royal Oak Jumbo was a 39mm with a 2121 movement (JLC 920) and now it's the 16202.

[@zulfiqarfirdaus5343]

Jumbo means 39mm

[@dooks85]

39 mm with no running seconds and thinner case than the standard RO

[@TeabagTore]

The jumbo is all the above, however it is a nickname given to the original RO as 39mm was quite the size back in 1972 when it was launched.

[@StagguhLee]

I found this to be a much more coherent history of the design and history of the watch than other Reference Points which have often felt like a whistle stop tour of all the different references without much context.

[@MS-sy8ls]

Reference points! 🙌🏻 More of these please!

[@dooks85]

Fantastic video! The royal oak achieved being masculine and very elegant at the same time. It has quickly become my favorite watch because of the story and design. Although my favorite is the soulless silver dial 15300st according to Jack on the podcast haha! Fantastic video thank you for sharing

[@spacejaime]

Absolutely magnificent presentation on one of the most iconic watch in modern history. Thanks Jack!

[@benedict3840]

Awesome and thanks for sharing magazine content also to non-subscribers. Superb!

[@I_like_YT_lots]

Great vid! I personally think the Royal Oak had saved AP from obscurity and if the sports watch market/hype never took off who knows if they already went bankrupt.

[@adamw.7169]

The insurance ad before videos really kinda spoils it a bit every time

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Who does Jack's Hair .

[@peteanddrake4242]

I called Hodinkee today to buy a $7K watch and they hung up on me because I would not leave a message and wait for a "remote" person to call me back.

[@mikejones-dx8bx]

It's unfortunate that the new 7121 movement is not as attractive looking or as well hand-finished as the previous 2121 movement. I am noticing collectors are starting to realize this so if you want a watch that is more collectible I would only buy a RO Jumbo with the 2121 movement.

[@GavinMcLeod]

What a damn good video

[@Justinmzack]

Nice video but I missed a key element of most of the reference points I’ve seen, which is the fact that you typically aggregate and show the actual watches, not just pictures of them. Like the most recent Explorer 1 RP was absolutely sick.

[@keeponjumping5000]

Great video! 14000 Series really is the most interesting range! And perfect size!

[@tigerjean888]

Great summary of such a complicated history!

[@lancechan8256]

Thanks for this! Was hoping to see a review on the 14332/4332 reference vs 4100.

[@klaushaunstrupchristensen7252]

One of my favorite watches which I will newer own. Because I am either to sane or to much of a cheapskate. Happily what drew my mind in a hypnotic way was the beautiful Cartier Tank Louis worn during this excellent presentation. A stunningly beautiful pure gold watch at a almost affordable price.

[@HiroYukimura07]

I changed the playback speed at 0.75x and donno why.

[@kylerodgers3608]

How many platinum Royal oaks were made? Only remember the 15202 in platinum w/ the green dial.

[@mfhashmi991]

Only 85

[@kylerodgers3608]

@@mfhashmi991 I mean how many different Royal oak models were platinum? Just 1?

[@WN427]

I think I love this series more now than Talking Watches. It's great to learn more technical aspects and historical development of such truly iconic watches.

[@menaseven9093]

Nice AP Royal Oak history

[@algernonwolfwhistle6351]

Superb. Thanks for posting.

[@Theo-ul8qm]

Boy, do I miss seeing Jack on youtube...

[@FreshFr33ze]

One day I’ll own one!

[@BenTramer]

I loved Jack's ostensibly perfunctory drawing on the thick stock paper...almost ASMR lol

[@jerdonsbabbler3515]

@4:26 he says that polishing stainless steel had not really been done before at this level. But what about knives and airplane parts and stuff? On another subject, I am wearing a RO while I watch this great Hodinkee piece, above. I'm appreciating that the RO stays flat and lays flat but allows a certain flow of air. It is reassuringly cool against the wrist. The Nautilus, for all of its charm, is a warm watch. It's so comfortable, it doesn't feel like metal.

[@donald1983]

After wearing many watches across different brands (Panerai, Omega, Rolex, Tudor, Zenith, Vacheron and AP,) the Royal Oak is still my all time favourite.

[@glanci82]

Beacuse you didn’t try a Patek yet eheheheh

[@donald1983]

@@glanci82 haha yeah but the Nautilus design doesn’t really appeal much to me.

[@lucentics]

try a Nautilus. will be a hard decision. it’s a fair fight between 222 vs Nautilus vs Royal Oak vs Daytona for me 😁

[@trustinsaam5415]

Using the word “box” million times! Was the “growth of personal business” related to boxes of the AP perhaps?

[@jimbaranresidence8]

If u opt for ROO 3126 enhandement, AP will reduce 59jewel to 54jewel, the watch weight gets lighter, the min hand jump everytime u adjust the time.....

[@folumb]

I'm conflicted. I want to see other AP watches, feels like they ONLY make the royal oak. At the same time, why would they listen to me? I'll never be able to afford a royal oak or any other reference they put out

[@kevinn1158]

Ok, time to enrage the Royal Oak fans. I think this design looks seriously dated. And as always, collectors with a boatloads of money inflate the prices of these beyond the reach of most people who do like this watch. A shame. Same goes for the Nautilus.

[@Chips-Lab]

Love that content

[@allenhenyo793]

Didn’t the Cartier Santos did the exposed screws on the bezel first?

[@allenhenyo793]

@@Bu-22 correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the screws already there to hold the bezel on the first design? Its just not just as big as todays screws

[@allenhenyo793]

@@Bu-22 😆 i wish someone with a first version of santos should tell us if the bolt is actually a screw. 😂

[@Armoer]

@@allenhenyo793 the screws in the Santos bezel are real screws, not bolts like the Royal Oak. That is why they are not neatly aligned.

[@peterk814]

Cartier is junk

[@dineshjiawan]

Legendary watch👍👌👊

[@donulldh4785]

You make a video of a watch that I do care for and most likely never wear, grab 15 minutes of my attention, and afterward I am glad to have watched. Thanks

[@fayezejel3022]

I love it

[@peterbradshaw8018]

A Veblen good if ever there was one.

[@mikejones-dx8bx]

owning veblen goods are when you know you've made it! especially if you got in before it became a veblen good.

[@hughmo5769]

This just made me re-think about getting a 5402. That 14802 is stunning!

[@Rosavieiraferreira]

Great video! Thanks for sharing it!

[@tomee7]

Mentioned the 15000 series but didn't include any photo of the forgotten 15300

[@bolingergrandeannee]

Very interesting and clear explanation, the story about in house mouvements present only after 1996 it’s not very well known.

[@Mr.1-OAK]

👌👌👌

[@svdb4494]

Great presentation. Thanks a lot.

[@wongbryson]

I enjoyed reading the magazine. 👍

[@DB01800]

We need Ben Clymer doing these episodes with real emotions and real watches, Jack Forster is very good for Hey Hodinkee but fails to connect with the viewers especially for a Reference Points episode.

[@kevinhayes7830]

Beautiful watch 😎👍