77151, ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE
1996. Royal Oak Offshore Collection. The creation of the ladies’ Model 77151 (30 mm) and Model 25807 (38 mm day date) to complement Model 25721 (42 mm) marked the birth of the Offshore collection in 1996. APNews 12, Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1996. Identification image of Model 77151BA. Audemars Piguet Archives.
2000. Exploded view of Case 77151. This document, intended for watchmakers in the After-Sales Service Department, provides details of the exterior components of the first ladies' Royal Oak with a leather strap. Audemars Piguet Archives.
1997. Royal Oak Offshore brochure. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak, Emmanuel Gueit designed a multicoloured Offshore collection for an anniversary showcase. Enthusiasm was such that the watches were produced in series. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Calibre 2140. Selfwinding calibre, Movement 438280 produced in 1996. 9 lignes (20 mm diameter). 28,800 vibrations per hour. Audemars Piguet collection.
Presented in 1993, the first Royal Oak Offshore caused a huge stir. Its 42 mm diameter earned it the unflattering nicknames of "sea elephant" and even "beast". When evoking this creation, the designer Emmanuel Gueit likes to recall that he had designed an exclusively masculine watch: "so big that no woman would want to wear it" (see his story here).
In an astonishing turn of events, in 1996, the same designer enriched the collection with two exclusively feminine variants: Model 79290 and its 77151 variation on a leather strap with a barely 30 mm diameter. Despite this reduced size, these models both feature a high-frequency selfwinding calibre and a case that is water-resistant to 100 metres.
Model 77151 was fairly successful from 1997 onwards, particularly in its coloured versions. However, its production remains very limited, which can perhaps be explained by its close aesthetic resemblance to the ladies' models with leather straps in the Royal Oak collection, in particular Model 66800 (28 mm, quartz calibre 2610).
Sales from 1996 to 2005: a total of 276 units.
Presented in 1993, the first Royal Oak Offshore caused a huge stir. Its 42 mm diameter earned it the unflattering nicknames of "sea elephant" and even "beast". When evoking this creation, the designer Emmanuel Gueit likes to recall that he had designed an exclusively masculine watch: "so big that no woman would want to wear it" (see his story here).
In an astonishing turn of events, in 1996, the same designer enriched the collection with two exclusively feminine variants: Model 79290 and its 77151 variation on a leather strap with a barely 30 mm diameter. Despite this reduced size, these models both feature a high-frequency selfwinding calibre and a case that is water-resistant to 100 metres.
Model 77151 was fairly successful from 1997 onwards, particularly in its coloured versions. However, its production remains very limited, which can perhaps be explained by its close aesthetic resemblance to the ladies' models with leather straps in the Royal Oak collection, in particular Model 66800 (28 mm, quartz calibre 2610).
Sales from 1996 to 2005: a total of 276 units.
1998. Royal Oak Offshore 77151ST No. 172. Date. Selfwinding Calibre 2140, Movement 451913. 30 mm steel Case E514. Purple dial and strap. Watch to be sold by Christie’s Geneva in November 2022, lot 284 © Christie's Geneva.
1998. Royal Oak Offshore 77151ST No. 165. Date. Selfwinding Calibre 2140, Movement 452225. 30 mm steel Case E507. Orange dial and strap. Audemars Piguet Heritage, inv. 2168.
1998. Royal Oak Offshore 77151ST No. 165. Date. Selfwinding Calibre 2140, Movement 452225. 30 mm steel Case E507. Orange dial and strap. Audemars Piguet Heritage, inv. 2168.
1996. Royal Oak Offshore 77151ST. Variant published in the Audemars Piguet Catalogues from 1996 to 2001. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1996. Technical data for Model 77151ST. Audemars Piguet Archives.
1998. Royal Oak Offshore 77151ST. Orange variant published in the 1998-99. Audemars Piguet Catalogue Audemars Piguet Archives.
1998. Royal Oak Offshore 77151ST. Purple variant published in the 1998-99 Audemars Piguet Catalogue. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1997. Identification image of Model 77151ST, green. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1997. Identification image of the brown Model 77151ST. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1997. Identification image of Model 77151ST, red. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1997. Identification image of Model 77151ST, “turquoise”. Audemars Piguet Archives.
The steel version accounts for more than 85% of the total production. In 1997, the collection was enriched with models in bright colours featured on both the dials and straps: purple, green, orange, brown and blue. Created as part of the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak, this multicoloured collection was available in References 25770 and 25808.
Sold for CHF 3,880 in 1998, the Royal Oak Offshore 77151ST was one of the brand's most accessible models, based on a mechanical calibre.
Sales from 1997 to 2005: a total of 241 units, of which 88 (1997), 104 (1998), 36 (1999), 9 (2000), 3 (2001) and 1 (2005).
The steel version accounts for more than 85% of the total production. In 1997, the collection was enriched with models in bright colours featured on both the dials and straps: purple, green, orange, brown and blue. Created as part of the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak, this multicoloured collection was available in References 25770 and 25808.
Sold for CHF 3,880 in 1998, the Royal Oak Offshore 77151ST was one of the brand's most accessible models, based on a mechanical calibre.
Sales from 1997 to 2005: a total of 241 units, of which 88 (1997), 104 (1998), 36 (1999), 9 (2000), 3 (2001) and 1 (2005).
1996. Royal Oak Offshore 77151BA. Variant published in the Audemars Piguet Catalogues from 1996 to 2001. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1996. Identification image of Model 77151BA. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Circa 1996. Technical data for Model 77151BA. Audemars Piguet Archives.
Only 35 examples of Model 77151 model were attired in precious metal. The archives document only one variant: in yellow gold, on a hand-sewn blue sharkskin strap, with a dial whose finish is directly inspired by the 5402 model of 1972: Night Blue, Cloud 50, T21 tapisserie.
In the 10 years prior to the publication of this article (March 2023), no copies have appeared in major auction houses.
Sales from 1996 to 2005: a total of 35 units, of which 1 (1996), 27 (1997), 1 (1998), 3 (1999), 1 (2000), 1 (2001) and 1 (2005).
Only 35 examples of Model 77151 model were attired in precious metal. The archives document only one variant: in yellow gold, on a hand-sewn blue sharkskin strap, with a dial whose finish is directly inspired by the 5402 model of 1972: Night Blue, Cloud 50, T21 tapisserie.
In the 10 years prior to the publication of this article (March 2023), no copies have appeared in major auction houses.
Sales from 1996 to 2005: a total of 35 units, of which 1 (1996), 27 (1997), 1 (1998), 3 (1999), 1 (2000), 1 (2001) and 1 (2005).
