4153, Royal Oak
Circa 1978. Royal Oak 4153BA Model (35 mm) in its yellow gold variation. Audemars Piguet 1979–1980 catalogue. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1980. Royal Oak 4153BA Model (35 mm) in its yellow gold variation. Audemars Piguet 1981–1982 catalogue. Audemars Piguet Archives.
1977. Technical Data Sheet for the case of Royal Oak Model 4153BA. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Derived from Model 4100, the Royal Oak 4153 (renamed 14153 in 1984/1985) was set with 80 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel.
This type of gemsetting corresponds to the first generations of gemset Royal Oak watches. It can be explained by the thinness of the bezels which made it difficult to set on the top without jeopardising the watch’s water-resistance. It served to emphasise the rounded octagonal shape while highlighting the eight hexagonal screws of the case.
176 units were sold in 1978 and 1985. Although the small consecutive case numbers are from the 4100 series, the records state that they are Model 4153 watches.
Derived from Model 4100, the Royal Oak 4153 (renamed 14153 in 1984/1985) was set with 80 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel.
This type of gemsetting corresponds to the first generations of gemset Royal Oak watches. It can be explained by the thinness of the bezels which made it difficult to set on the top without jeopardising the watch’s water-resistance. It served to emphasise the rounded octagonal shape while highlighting the eight hexagonal screws of the case.
176 units were sold in 1978 and 1985. Although the small consecutive case numbers are from the 4100 series, the records state that they are Model 4153 watches.
Circa 1980. Identification photograph of a Royal Oak 4153BA variant. Audemars Piguet Archives.
1978. Royal Oak 4153BA, N° 179 Date. Calibre 2123. Bracelet 477. 18-carat yellow gold case, bezel and bracelet, bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds. Sold at SSIH in 1978. Note: movement replaced at a later stage, undocumented Kajar dial. Sold at auction at Phillips in Geneva on 9 November 2019, lot 107. © Picture Phillips.
1981. Royal Oak 4153BA (1978), No. 1631. Date. Calibre 2123, movement 228568. Bracelet 477. T21 Tapisserie with Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 (Night Blue, Cloud 50) colour. Case B57948, 35 mm. 18-carat yellow gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds. Sold to the American market in 1981. Note: the records indicate Model 4153, but the line-set bracelet corresponds to Model 4275 (1982). Audemars Piguet Heritage, inv. 2085.
Almost three-quarters of the Royal Oak 5143 models were made in yellow gold (BA). This version is very likely to have had the greatest variety of dials, even if the archives provide no details as to their number or distinctive characteristics.
Sales from 1978 to 1983: 131 units in all, of which 23 (1978), 18 (1979), 30 (1980), 32 (1981), 22 (1982), 2 (1983), 1 (1984), 2 (1985).
Almost three-quarters of the Royal Oak 5143 models were made in yellow gold (BA). This version is very likely to have had the greatest variety of dials, even if the archives provide no details as to their number or distinctive characteristics.
Sales from 1978 to 1983: 131 units in all, of which 23 (1978), 18 (1979), 30 (1980), 32 (1981), 22 (1982), 2 (1983), 1 (1984), 2 (1985).
1981. Extract from the Production Register. List of six examples of the white gold Model 4153 produced in 1981. Audemars Piguet Archives.
The Registres d’Établissage show mentions of 18 Royal Oak 4153BC (white gold), sold between 1982 and 1984. The Audemars Piguet archives do not contain an image of this variation. Between 2012 and 2022, no examples appeared in major auctions.
Sales from 1981 to 1983: 18 units in all, of which 6 (1981); 10 (1982) and 1 (1983) and 1 (1984).
The Registres d’Établissage show mentions of 18 Royal Oak 4153BC (white gold), sold between 1982 and 1984. The Audemars Piguet archives do not contain an image of this variation. Between 2012 and 2022, no examples appeared in major auctions.
Sales from 1981 to 1983: 18 units in all, of which 6 (1981); 10 (1982) and 1 (1983) and 1 (1984).
1981. Extract from the Production Register. List of four examples of the two-tone (yellow gold and steel) Model 4153 produced in 1981. Audemars Piguet Archives.
The Registres d’Établissage mention 27 Royal Oak 4153SAs, combining steel and yellow gold, sold between 1981 and 1983. The Audemars Piguet archives do not contain an image of this model variation. Between 2012 and 2022, no examples appeared in major auctions.
Sales from 1981 to 1983: 27 in all, of which 18 (1981), 8 (1982) and 1 (1983).
The Registres d’Établissage mention 27 Royal Oak 4153SAs, combining steel and yellow gold, sold between 1981 and 1983. The Audemars Piguet archives do not contain an image of this model variation. Between 2012 and 2022, no examples appeared in major auctions.
Sales from 1981 to 1983: 27 in all, of which 18 (1981), 8 (1982) and 1 (1983).
