Audemars Piguet Ref. 26331ST Blue

At The Second Hand Club, we are proud to have this Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph,  reference 26331ST with a stunning blue dial. This piece is available right now for sale.

Wire transfer payments are eligible for a 3% discount on all of our watches.

About the brand 

Experience the luxury and prestige of Audemars Piguet, a renowned Swiss watchmaking brand with a rich history dating back to 1874. Founded by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, two young entrepreneurs with a shared passion for horology, Audemars Piguet quickly established itself as a leader in the industry.

Audemars brought his expertise in the production of complicated watch movements to the company, while Piguet served as the repasseur or master watchmaker, performing the final regulation on the watches. Together, they created some of the most groundbreaking timepieces in the industry, including the first minute repeater wristwatch in 1892 and the "Grand Complication" pocket watch in 1899, featuring seven unique complications.

After the founders' passing, their sons Paul Louis Audemars and Paul Edward Piguet continued the family tradition of innovation with the creation of the thinnest pocket watch caliber in 1925, the first skeletonized pocket watch in 1934, and the thinnest wristwatch in 1946.

In the 1970s, Audemars Piguet faced challenges in the face of the Quartz Crisis, but rose to the occasion with the iconic Royal Oak luxury sport watch, designed by Gerald Genta and later upgraded by Emmanuel Gueit with the creation of the Royal Oak Offshore. Today, Audemars Piguet continues to push the boundaries of innovation with highly complicated timepieces, including the model celebrating the company's 125th anniversary featuring the Equation of time, sunrise, sunset, and a perpetual calendar mechanism.

Whether you opt for a classic Audemars Piguet model or one of their highly complex complications, you can be sure you're wearing a watchmaking icon.

About the royal oak

In 1972, Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet faced a crisis. The emergence of the quartz movement, which offered greater accuracy and lower prices than traditional mechanical watches, had led to a shift in the industry towards Asian companies such as Seiko, Casio, and Citizen. Audemars Piguet knew that it needed a game-changing design to survive.

The company turned to master watch designer Gerald Genta, who was given just one day to come up with a new concept. Taking inspiration from a deep-sea diving helmet, Genta created the specs for the Royal Oak, a steel sports watch with an octagonal case, exposed screws on the bezel, and a full steel bracelet. The watch's name, Royal Oak, was inspired by a series of naval vessels made of hollowed-out oak trees that served in the British Royal Navy in 1651.

Despite initial skepticism, the Royal Oak proved to be a success. Its unique design redefined the luxury watch market at a time when many Swiss watchmakers were struggling. Audemars Piguet continued to release variations of the Royal Oak in different metals and with advanced movements and complications. In 1993, the company introduced the Offshore, an updated version of the Royal Oak that paid homage to the original design while adding a more sporty, masculine aesthetic. The Offshore faced initial criticism but eventually became a success in its own right, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018.

This year, Audemars Piguet is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak, with the production of 2022 limited edition pieces honoring the original 1972 release. The Royal Oak has become a iconic symbol of luxury and innovation, cementing its place as a timeless classic in the world of high-end horology. 

Specifications