The Royal Oak is perhaps one of the most distinctive watches around. With its masculine octagonal shape, exposed screws and integrated bracelet, it is easy to recognise from afar. But more importantly, the watch is a legend for pioneering the use of stainless steel in haute horlogerie, thanks to a watch designer, Gerald Genta, who was inspired by the porthole of a naval ship. Though back in 1971 when this inspiration led to the Royal Oak, Mr. Genta wasn’t yet the household name it is today.

This 41mm example is a modern take on the original Royal Oak reference 5402 and replaced the ref. 15400, which took the fall for the upsized case of the iconic Genta design from 39mm to 41mm. This reference 15500ST is largely unchanged on the exterior from the 15400 though more of the change has taken place under the dial. This example features a grand tapisserie dial that’s finished in a silvery-white colour, with its sunburst finish, further adding to the dial overall clean appearance. Housed in a 41mm stainless steel octagonal case which is in excellent condition, featuring satin brushed and polished angles – a design aesthetic which stays true to Royal Oak DNA.

The all-important automatic movement of this 15500ST was new for 2019, the in-house developed calibre 4302. This movement features a few key upgrades on the previous Royal Oak movement, including 70 hours of power reserve, and a skeletonised 18-carat gold oscillating rotor. The watch comes complete with box and papers.