BjoernM21
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Does the love for the AP Royal Oak mean the king of style did not trust his skills designing a watch for himself?
At the end of a lean time for watch enthusiasts, the 1980s with all the quartz watches of dubious taste, Karl Lagerfeld presented in 1987 his own line of watches.
Despite the gushing report in "Europa Star" magazine # 170/4-1988, he seems never to have worn personally a watch of his design, but rather trusted Gerald Genta as watch designer. Relating this to the very outspoken character of Karl Lagerfeld, his attachment to the Royal Oak is a strong approval for AP.
For me it was also the watch I scratched together all my savings of several years as a youth, to get the "Jumbo". Wearing it 24/7 (even in bed and swimming in the sea), I realised what talking piece it was then in daily life, people noticing the unusual shape and size. I still love it.
Björn
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 Dige...
Excellent first post, HSTE. Very interesting! I didn't know that K.L
Was quite a bit fetishist with his Watch. Thank you, and welcome here! Best, Nicolas
would like to continue learnign about this, had NO idea!
Great pictures, great post, share more of your AP!!!! S
Ok, here some more pictures
Thanks to all for your feed-backs! What info can I add? Not much more than I already gave: Production year 1973, delivered according to the extract of archives of Audemars Piguet to Italy. I had the watch overhauled by AP as there were some issues with th...
Thank you for these additional photos
Really quite an amazing piece. You've added a completely new chapter of info on the mystique of the AP RO!!! I wonder how the watch was blackened? Was AP able to say anything about that, as it doesn't look like the black is worn off in between the bracele...
Epic First Post! :-)
I never knew about this, great post and pics, love KL's work, so not surprised he has the good taste to go for a RO Jumbo :-) S
Great post! Welcome to PuristSPro!
Karl Lagerfeld, an amazing individual. A true trendsetter. Hmm, how would an all black Royal Oak look on my wrist?
Black Royal Oak also in today's Hodinkee
Interestingly, in a Hodinkee article about Jack Heuer today, he mentions the inspiration for the PVD black Monaco was seeing Spain's King Juan Carlos I wearing a black Royal Oak.
Fascinating historical traces... even all the scratches and blemishes...
add a lot of character to this watch. Its true to his persona, and like the watch also KL wears the scars and crinkles with grace (most of the time ;-)). And, again like the watch, he does not (really) age! Attached an image of the very first AP RO I had ...
"Karl" and "normal A-Series"
Thanks, how do you like my "Karl" and my A-8xx"? Cheers! ...
amazing, again!
What I like about this shot is how the edges of the octagonal bezel shows they are still very sharp, very nice!!! Great piece, great side-by-side comparison... I wonder if you've gotten any strange looks by people when you wear this! ;) S
Welcome to PuristSPro and the AP Forum!
I hope you will continue to post and contribute. There are other well known persons that wear fine timepieces that we don't discuss either. My personal interest is always in the brands and watches themselves, and not who wears them. But this is the wonder...
after a long time ...
i don't saw or hear some real interresting news about these old royal oaks 5402, this post and the watch is really a bomb, a watchquake! super strong Congratulations Stephan
Gladly, History cannot be re written when it had been seriously written. ;)
But I agree with you that the OP is a great addition to what we already know about the 5402! Best, and nice to read you again! Nicolas.
I wouldn't go for it, the blackened RO. It's like wearing charcoal on your wrist.
With the Aquanaut it's different. It's got a rubber strap and is more a chic Diver's watch. The assymetrical dial, makes it a lucky watch, the Aquanaut. The RO also but all blackened it's a watch for the queer guys. My opinion, no offense. Rip, Mr. Karl L...
Does the love for the AP Royal Oak mean the king of style did not trust his skills designing a watch for himself?
At the end of a lean time for watch enthusiasts, the 1980s with all the quartz watches of dubious taste, Karl Lagerfeld presented in 1987 his own line of watches. Despite the gushing report in "Europa Star" magazine # 170/4-1988, he seems never to have wo...
