High-end watchmaker replica Audemars Piguet has introduced three versions of the new Royal Oak Mini. With a case diameter of only 23mm, it is the smallest size in the current Royal Oak collection and carries the meaning of carrying on the tradition of the women’s Royal Oak quartz series that has lasted for over 40 years.
Born from a sketch by legendary watch designer Gérald Genta in 1972, Royal Oak captivated wealthy male customers in Europe and North America with its bold size and ahead-of-its-time avant-garde design. And soon, requests for making women’s models started pouring in. Jacqueline Dimier, head of the design office from 1975 to 1999, was tasked with creating a women’s model based on the iconic Genta original design codes, and the Royal Oak II finally saw the light of day in 1976. Compared to the men’s ‘Jumbo’, Reference 8638, which is equipped with the small automatic Caliber 2062 and is significantly reduced in size to 29mm, and Reference 8756, a gemset derivative, received a better than expected response and had a lasting influence on the Lady Royal Oak series released later.
Encouraged by the success of the Royal Oak II, Audemars Piguet responded to requests from female customers who wanted a Royal Oak smaller than 29mm, and launched its first Royal Oak quartz model in 26mm in 1980. When the case size becomes this small, it is difficult to support the performance of a mechanical movement, so a quartz movement was boldly introduced. Additionally, thanks to the ultra-thin quartz movement, the thickness and weight of the fake watches gradually became thinner and lighter, receiving a warm response from female customers. As a result, a 24.5mm version equipped with quartz caliber 2508 followed in 1986, and in 1997, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak, the 20mm Mini Royal Oak, the smallest of the Royal Oak series ever, appeared (at the time). (Also called ‘mini oak’ for short).
The Mini Royal Oak Reference 67075 is housed in a yellow gold case and equipped with Caliber 2601, the world’s smallest quartz movement at the time, developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1982. Reference 67075 was limited to 465 pieces in steel, 328 pieces in yellow gold, 272 pieces in bi-color material, 101 pieces in white gold, and 88 pieces in pink gold, followed by the diamond-set derivative model 67076 (549 pieces). and 67072 (only 13 made) followed. According to Audemars Piguet’s official archive documents, a total of 162 different Royal Oak Quartz models were created between 1980 and 2000, in 16 different sizes from 20 mm to 39 mm (a rectangular version was also released), 11 It is said to be equipped with three different quartz calibers.
As such, the Royal Oak Mini, newly released this year, is a modern reinterpretation model that inherits the tradition of the Royal Oak Quartz and Royal Oak Mini series, which have never been left out in Royal Oak’s history of over 50 years. The three Royal Oak Minis are presented in 23mm, a slightly larger size than the original Mini Oak from 1997. The case and integrated bracelet are made of three materials: yellow gold, white gold, and pink gold. The case diameter is 23mm and the thickness is 6.6mm, making it very compact and slim. Water resistance is 50m.
As such, the Royal Oak Mini, newly released this year, is a modern reinterpretation model that inherits the tradition of the Royal Oak Quartz and Royal Oak Mini series, which have never been left out in Royal Oak’s history of over 50 years. The three Royal Oak Minis are presented in 23mm, a slightly larger size than the original Mini Oak from 1997. The case and integrated bracelet are made of three materials: yellow gold, white gold, and pink gold. The case diameter is 23mm and the thickness is 6.6mm, making it very compact and slim. Water resistance is 50m.
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