AuctionsMay 12, 2022
‘The Rock,’ the Biggest White Diamond Ever Put Up for Auction, Sells for $22M AuctionsMay 13, 2022
Famed Watch Designer Gerald Genta’s Royal Oak Sells for $2.1M
It became the most valuable vintage Audemars Piguet watch ever sold at auction, according to Sotheby’s.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak once owned by watch designer Gerald Genta, featuring an 18-karat yellow gold bezel Genta produced and added himself, sold for $2.1 million at Sotheby’s Geneva this week.
Geneva—Sotheby’s put the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch once owned by famed designer Gerald Genta on the auction block, and it was a hit.
The watch went up for auction in the “Important Watches: Part I” sale in Geneva on May 10, where it sold for approximately $2.1 million at current exchange rates, making it the most valuable vintage Audemars Piguet ever sold at auction, according to Sotheby’s.
Eight bidders competed for almost six minutes before a Swiss collector made the winning bid.
Audemars Piguet first launched the Royal Oak in 1972, revolutionizing the industry as the first luxury sports watch to be made of steel.
The wristwatch features a date component and an octagonal bezel with eight screws.
Genta designed the Royal Oak overnight, drawing his inspiration from a childhood memory of seeing a man being sealed into an old-fashioned diving suit near the Mont Blanc bridge in Geneva.
The circa 1978 Royal Oak watch that went to auction was unique, because it not only marked the first time a Genta-owned watch went to auction, but also because it had the unique specification of an 18-karat yellow gold bezel Genta produced and added himself at his Swiss workshop.
Its sale came as part of a series bringing to market 100 original watch designs from Genta’s personal archives, each paired with an NFT.
The first auction in the “Icon of Time” series was held in Geneva in February, followed by the second auction in Hong Kong in April.
See: More Highlights from “Important Watches: Part I”
This Patek Philippe Ref. 5207P circa 2013 with a platinum minute repeating perpetual calendar tourbillon and moon phases, leap year, and day/night indication sold for about $815,400.
This Rolex “Paul Newman” Ref. 6239 yellow gold chronograph wristwatch circa 1969 went for approximately $614,700.
The Rolex “FIFA World Cup 2010—Netherlands Edition” Daytona Ref. 116509H, a limited-edition white gold chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, which sold for approximately $439,200
A circa 2016 Patek Philippe “40th Anniversary” Nautilus Ref. 5976/1G-001, a white gold flyback chronograph wristwatch with date and bracelet, went for about $627,200.
This Rolex “Tutti Frutti” Yacht-Master Ref. 116695SATS in pink gold with diamond, tsavorite, and sapphire garnered approximately $125,400 at auction.
In the May 10 auction in which Genta’s Royal Oak appeared, there were also four rare oil paintings from the watch designer, which achieved $2.3 million total.
This brings the running total of works from Genta’s personal archive to $4.3 million, Sotheby’s said.
Outside of Genta’s personal Royal Oak, collectors still wanted to be a part of the watch designer’s history, with 55 Genta-designed models selling to realize a combined total of $10.7 million.
Leading this group was a Patek Phillipe Nautilus Ref. 5976 commemorating the model’s 40th anniversary, which sold for approximately $627,400, and a stainless steel Patek Phillipe Nautilus Ref. 5711 with a rare olive-green dial, which sold for about $526,800.
Sotheby’s noted perpetual calendar Royal Oaks were also in high demand, including a Ref. 25554 in yellow gold with a black dial circa 1986 that sold for about $376,500, and a platinum skeletonized perpetual calendar Ref. 25636, which also went for approximately $376,500.
Meanwhile, a Rolex Daytona commemorating the achievements of the Dutch football team in the World Cup—one of only 30—went for more than four times its pre-sale high estimate and set an auction record for the reference when it sold for about $439,200.
And a rare Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” in yellow gold circa 1969 sold for approximately $614,700 after almost three minutes of bidding competition among three bidders.
Sotheby’s “Important Watches: Part I” sale totaled $19.3 million and was 86 percent sold by volume.
It was followed closely by Part II of Important Watches in Geneva on May 11, which totaled $3.8 million.
The final sequence of “Icons of Time” offering designs from Genta’s archives will take place in New York from June 8-22, led by the most valuable Disney watches he ever made.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Weekly QuizAug 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
Policies & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.
MajorsAug 06, 2025
Claire’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy AgainThe jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.
IndependentsAug 06, 2025
Smith & Son Jewelers to Close 107-Year-Old Location Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.
CollectionsAug 06, 2025
Zahn-Z Swims With Whales in ‘Beluga’ CollectionDesigner Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.
TrendsAug 06, 2025
Paola De Luca to Release Trendbook 2027+She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.
CrimeAug 05, 2025
Report: Suspect Arrested in 1992 Murder of Miami JewelerOmar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.
CollectionsAug 05, 2025
Mignon Faget Commemorates 20th Anniversary of Hurricane KatrinaThe New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.
ColumnistsAug 05, 2025
The PR Adviser: Affiliate Marketing Is the Cost of CoverageLilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.
Events & AwardsAug 05, 2025
JA Announces Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship WinnersThe organization has awarded a total of $42,000 through its scholarship programs this year.
Events & AwardsAug 04, 2025
Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging DesignersThe winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.
TrendsAug 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: August’s Bright BaublesAs summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.
CrimeAug 04, 2025
‘The Watch King’ Assaulted, Robbed in QueensMoshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.
MajorsAug 04, 2025
Borsheims Welcomes New Assistant Facilities ManagerXavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet JewelersThe addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ NecklaceThe necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award WinnersJewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.
