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Karl Lagerfeld and his black AP Royal Oak A-Series

 

I wonder that it has not been more widely discussed yet in specialist Forums or Blogs that Karl Lagerfeld is a very long time owner of an AP Royal Oak Jumbo A-Series.

First hand evidence is given by himself in an interview in the "AD - Architerctural Digest" Sept/Oct 2011, page 64-66. KL is asked, whether he has an obsession about particular design objects. His answer (losely translated from the original French interview): (...) "but yes, I have some fetish objects, for example my watch which I wear since 35 years, a Royal Oak"(...)

The special thing about his A-Series Royal Oak is that IT IS COMPLETELY BLACK. As we know, KL - for most of his life - only wore two colors in combination: black and white. The story that I found out is that he had - ordered or been given - several AP RO A-Series, 1973 and 1974 which he wore himself and some of them he gave to very close staff.

I did some research into publicly available material and will try to attach pictures as follows:

- An early Picture (April 2, 1979) total and detail where the black AP RO is very well visible 

- A still Picture from an October 23, 2003 interview on Television

- A still Picture from his documentary movie "Lagerfeld confidential" (2007) where he wears his black AP RO in the opening Scene (first few minutes of the movie)

I had a few years back the opportunity to get "the" / "one of the" KL black AP RO. It is an A-Series (A-12xx), delivered in 1973 to Italy. I assume that KL got it as a present as he gets so many things as a present like his cat, his Rolls Royce etc. I assume the watch has been blackened in Italy before being given to him. But this is speculation. The person however I bought the watch from knows that it comes from the KL "entourage". 


Hope this is of interest

KL 1979

KL 1979


KL 1979

KL 1979


KL 2003

KL 2003


KL 2007

KL 2007


AP RO Jumbo A-12xx

AP RO Jumbo A-12xx


AP RO Jumbo A-12xx

AP RO Jumbo A-12xx


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