The Royal Oak was never meant to blend in. Gérald Genta’s design shocked the industry in 1972, and even nearly two decades later, Audemars Piguet was still finding ways to push its icon into new territory.

This ref. 14700SA from 1991 pairs steel with yellow gold, a configuration that already carries a certain presence. But the real story lies on the dial. Instead of the expected plain tapisserie, you’ll find a rare diamond-set dial with twelve brilliant-cut stones marking the hours with quiet precision. Few were produced in this layout, and fewer still survive in such condition.

The 14700 occupies a special place within the Royal Oak lineage. Officially midsize at 36mm, it earns the nickname “Mini-Jumbo” thanks to its proportions. The slimmer bezel and oversized dial give it the presence of its larger siblings, while retaining the wearability of a smaller case. It is a reference that blurs categories, and in doing so, has become a quiet cult favorite among collectors.

The case geometry remains sharp, framed by the signature octagonal bezel in gold. The integrated bracelet flows seamlessly, its alternating steel and gold links retaining their original definition. Every surface shows the careful interplay of brushed and polished finishing that defines the Royal Oak.

Inside beats the automatic caliber 2225, a thin, reliable movement that kept the Royal Oak line refined even as its case architecture grew bolder.

Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives, this example speaks to the creativity of Audemars Piguet in the early 1990s; a time when even established icons were treated as canvases for experimentation.

Royal Oaks are many things to many collectors. This one is rare, striking, and preserved with care. A watch that makes the familiar unfamiliar again. Comes with the extract of the archives.