Audemars Piguet

Having been passionate about horology for more than three decades, I have retained an extensive archive of catalogs dating back to the mid-1990s. Recently, I revisited an AP catalog from 1996/1997—nearly thirty years old. What is particularly striking is that approximately 90% of the catalog is dedicated to a diverse range of classical AP designs, while only a small portion—roughly the final 10%—features the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections. At that time, these models clearly played a secondary and relatively minor role within the brand’s overall offering.

It is regrettable to observe how profoundly the company has evolved over the past three decades. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the Royal Oak itself, the brand once demonstrated a far greater breadth of creativity and diversity.