Audemars Piguet

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A remarkable story of a Royal Oak Chronograph 39mm

A remarkable story of a Royal Oak Chronograph 39mm

I have always been in love with the not so limited, limited series of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph City of Sails in Steel at 39mm. All 39mm ROCs have a special place in my heart with the Gerald Genta DNA and 39mm original size even if the thickness is way higher.

So how does this story unfold. It was a Thursday and the local AP House had put on a small party and I go and have a great time. I get to see the 15500st in Blue which I really like and met a guy who was totally into hardcore sail boat racing and competing himself. What an amazing guy and I listened for 2 hours straight.

After leaving I was so inspired I needed to get a new AP, (some of you might know the feeling) so I go online and hit all the well known places … nothing special most of the watches are overpriced or rocked down and then I see an ad from a private person with a City of Sails with papers for sale.

I contact him and we meet 2 days later. I have seen so many City of Sails and other ROCs normally polished down to their foundations and I have heard all stories why they sell and where they are from and why the box is missing ..... and I always buy the watch and the seller. Both has to be convincing.

This guy was normal and not into watches at all and pulls out a scratched but unpolished AP ROC 39mm City of Sails in otherwise great condition. How is that possible after 17 years? I ask him and here comes the remarkable and also beautiful story.

His Father a successful business man bought this watch overseas in Africa in 2002 and wore it for around 3 years before he sadly passed away and inherited the watch to his son. He put it in the safe and never wore it. only wearing his Daytona, which I do understand. So it was laying in the safe for 14 years and then he decided to possibly selling it to me. Even the leather strap is 17 years old and still in working condition. With papers. Incredible to get such an old watch in fairly good condition.

So we agree on the deal and I go to check it out with our AP House who are impressively helpful, this AP House concept makes me want to be part of the brand even more. They look at the papers and its all legit, I am happy. Then they check out the watch performance and after 17 years it still has full power and a 2 seconds a day. This is pure amazing a 17 year watch running perfectly only few watchmakers can do this. I have never been more happy with an AP and being an AP customer in the AP Family.

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