Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Chinese Lacquer'

A Rare Fusion of Gold, Lacquer, Diamonds—and Pure 1980s Audemars Piguet Glamour. When Audemars Piguet unveiled the Royal Oak in 1972, the idea of a “casual chic” stainless-steel luxury watch was nothing short of radical. Yet over the following decade, the maison proved that Gérald Genta’s design could stretch far beyond its disruptive origins. Few examples illustrate that evolution better than this extraordinary lady’s Royal Oak, a model that transforms the watch’s famously industrial geometry into an expression of pure elegance and graphic artistry. Crafted in 18K yellow gold and measuring 26mm, this rare reference plays with contrast in a way that feels distinctly of its era yet still remarkably modern. The champagne dial, punctuated by diamond hour indexes, delivers classic glamour—but the eye is immediately drawn to the bolder strokes: black Chinese lacquer applied to the bezel and central bracelet links, creating an almost architectural interplay of line and color. The outer bracelet links take the opulence even further, each set with horizontally mounted diamonds that heighten the watch’s sleek, graphic rhythm. In total, the piece carries 264 diamonds weighing approximately 3.45 carats, all factory-set by Audemars Piguet and integrated seamlessly into the Royal Oak’s sharp, angular vocabulary. Inside, the watch runs on AP’s Caliber 2508 quartz movement, a slim, reliable engine that allowed this era of jewelry-forward Royal Oaks to achieve their distinctive proportions. This example—movement no. 303'127, case no. C22875.470—comes signed throughout (case, dial, movement, bracelet) and is accompanied by an Audemars Piguet Extrait de Registre confirming its registration on March 16, 1987, as well as a co-signed AP × Phillips Royal Oak 50th Anniversary Attestation. Originally sold in Singapore in 1987, the watch retains its full suite of box, papers, and sales documentation from the Phillips archive. With its combination of precious metal, exotic lacquer, and brilliantly integrated diamonds, this 66240BA is far more than a variation on the Royal Oak theme—it’s a rare artifact from a thrilling period in AP’s history, when the maison embraced high jewelry experimentation without sacrificing the design codes that made the Royal Oak an icon. A striking, uncommon, and highly collectible Royal Oak that feels as confident and glamorous today as it did in 1987.