The Royal Oak has always been a canvas for variation, but few executions capture its potential as boldly as this ref. 56023AC.

Here, yellow gold takes the lead across the case and bracelet, offset by crisp white gold centre links and a white gold bezel. It is the inverse of the more familiar bicolor combinations, yet it feels entirely at home within Genta’s original lines. The result is unmistakably Royal Oak, but with a warmth and contrast rarely encountered.

The dial completes the picture. Rather than the expected tapisserie, it features a smooth lemon-toned surface set with diamond hour markers. The simplicity of the ground allows the stones to speak, lending the watch a refined opulence that plays beautifully with the architectural case.

Measuring 36 mm, the case retains all the sharp facets and integrated flow that made the Royal Oak an icon. This example is further distinguished by its extraordinarily low case number (No. 002), placing it at the very dawn of the reference’s production.

Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming its configuration, this 56023AC stands as an exceptional example of how Audemars Piguet pushed the Royal Oak beyond convention, without ever losing its essence.