Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph

Gerald Genta was the first — and arguably, the most important — "celebrity" watch designer. Having conceived many important silhouettes, his most memorable work — the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak — was sketched in one day and changed the shape of the watch industry. The Royal Oak essentially created an entirely new category of 'luxury sport' timepieces, and with it came a new design language that inspired countless other maisons. What's particularly delightful about the design of the Royal Oak is that it works brilliantly in a number of sizes and case materials, from steel to carbon fiber to solid gold. This chronograph model, a Reference 26331ST.OO.1220ST.01, features a 41mm stainless steel case with the R.O.'s signature octagonal bezel and exposed screws, as well as a sapphire crystal, chronograph pushers nestled in an octagonal housing, and a signed, screw-down crown. The case finish is a testament to the manufacture's attention to detail, highlighted by a beautiful, satin-brushed b