Audemars Piguet has recently announced that the spearhead of its collections, the iconic Royal Oak ref. 15202ST will be replaced in 2022 by a new model to mark the 50th anniversary of the Roayl Oak. The CEO announced it Francois Bennahmias during the 'AP Social Club' format, conversing with the Head of Complications Michael Friedman.

Born in 1972 by the hand of Gerlad Genta, four years before Patek Philippe's Nautilus, the  Royal Oak ref. 5402 was a disruptive watch. It was not only the most expensive steel watch ever made, but a watch that defined a new genre, that of the luxury sports watch with integrated bracelet. The Audemars Piguet 15202 is the modern reference on whose shoulders the legacy of the first Royal rests and was presented in 2012, replacing the previous references 15202, in an exclusive boutique with only the blue dial to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak. which is why it is nicknamed "Anniversary".

The watch has kept the diameter of 39 mm and the legendary caliber 2121 derived from Jaeger Le Coultre, but has been updated with small changes, such as the positioning of the AP logo at around 6 o'clock (exactly as it did on the 5402) and the use of the date disc with blue background integral with the dial.

A few weeks ago our editor Andrea Frigerio dedicated an in-depth analysis of the 15202ST market price trend. In the face of this official announcement, given what happened in January for the Patek Philippe 5711, I really fear that the updated charts will show a dizzying increase in reseller prices. Paraphrasing a motto so dear to stock market speculator friends: “To the moon”.