Audemars Piguet, the vaunted manufacture from Les Brassus, wasn't doing so well at the end of the 1960s.  

Their horological prowess aside, times were changing, customer tastes were evolving, and AP was stuck firmly in a very traditional past. Fortunately for us, their executives recognized this, and bet it all on the launch of an avant garde timepiece the likes of which the world had never seen.

Utilizing the talents of a designer named Gerald Genta, AP planned from the beginning to make this new watch, dubbed the Royal Oak, a contradiction to tradition, and it became the world's first luxury sports watch — made in stainless steel, no less. The gamble paid off: Genta became a household name, and the watch world clamored to get their hands on the Royal Oak’s cutting-edge design, which featured a sharply angled watch with integrated bracelet, micro-tapisserie dial, and ultra-thin movement. Today, 50 years later, hunger for the Royal Oak remains unabated.

This particular Royal Oak is no run-of-the-mill example, however: A limited edition made to celebrate Sir Nick Faldo’s 1990 Masters and British Open back-to-back championships, it’s machined from a combination of stainless steel and tantalum — the first for a Royal Oak. A limited edition of 2,000 pieces, it was already pre-sold to 1,100 international collectors upon release! 

The reference 56175TT features a 33mm stainless steel and tantalum case with a matching integrated bracelet and signed, hidden deployant clasp; a grey micro-tappisserie dial with tritium lume and a matching handset; a signed crown; a sapphire crystal; and a quartz movement.

Wearing a smidge larger than its measurements would lead you to believe, particularly in the case of this watch being primarily constructed in tantalum, this watch offers an exceptional value if you are looking for a more understated alternative compared to its larger siblings.

This is your chance to get yourself a special, limited-edition Royal Oak in excellent condition. Don’t miss it!