Horological Anniversaries To Watch Out For

Five of the world’s most iconic timepieces celebrate milestone anniversaries this year. How have they evolved?

- Sumit Nag

Horology — the science and art of keeping time — has been part of human existence for nearly three and a half millennia. Through history, it has brought us countless milestones and inventions, including the invention of the pocket watch in the 1500s and the wristwatch in the 1900s. So, it is not surprising that in recent years, the watchmaking industry seems to be celebrating anniversaries almost every year. This year is no exception. Here are five significant anniversaries you should know about.

50 YEARS AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK

Launching the Royal Oak — or rather the Royal Oak “Jumbo” reference 5402 to be precise — was an audacious move. As Audemars Piguet announced the watch in 1972, it was the most intricate integrated bracelet steel timepiece ever made and carried the unimaginable price tag of 3,750 Swiss francs. With that exact amount, you could buy a Jaguar XJ6 back then.

The Royal Oak is a genre-defining object of desire that comes in multiple sizes and a variety of materials, with and without complications, such as the chronograph and perpetual calendar. However, what is remarkable is that even after half a century, the watch’s original and distinctive silhouette from 1972 remains largely intact.

Audemars Piguet honours the Royal Oak’s golden jubilee by updating the watch’s iconic design in subtle ways. It’s so subtle, in fact, that you wouldn’t even know it was a 50th anniversary watch until you notice the new dial colours and the special open-worked rotor marking the milestone anniversary.