Weekly Wind Down | Sales Highlights including watches from Audemars Piguet & Rolex

Starting life as a stainless steel sports watch, Audemars Piguet has since taken the Royal Oak in a number of different directions through the introduction of various metals, finishes and complications.⁠

Few represent the brand's reputation for technical expertise like this Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon. Released alongside a titanium and gold version, this stainless steel reference re-imagines the Royal Oak’s signature ‘’Tapisserie” dial using a smoked “Evolutive" pattern that emanates out from a focus point at 6 o'clock where a tourbillon is prominently featured.⁠

This isn’t the only Tourbillon offering in the Royal Oak family, but unlike its manual-wind alternative, the calibre 2950 in this series features automatic winding and a flying architecture, bringing a level of modernity not previously seen. 

With the Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon, AP has introduced a fresh perspective on the Royal Oak, while still respecting the model line’s unique character. And in doing so, they’ve proven that its appeal lies far beyond that angular exterior.⁠ Recently sold on Watch Collecting for £111,500

Some watches perfectly represent the era in which they were produced, defining the style of the time. Rolex’s ‘Serti’ dials offer a nostalgic throwback to the excess of the ‘80s and early ‘90s by dressing up brand icons with diamond and sapphire hour markers. 

If you’re wondering where the name comes from, Serti is based on the French word ‘sertir’, which means to set and refers specifically to the precious stones affixed to the dial.  The Serti treatment is most commonly associated with the Submariner and GMT which, despite their more utilitarian roots, are a perfect template for Rolex to show off its more flamboyant side. 

This full gold Submariner features alternating diamond and blue sapphires applied to a sunburst silver dial. The sapphires complement the bezel and the diamonds bring some extra sparkle to the precious metal case and bracelet.  

With Serti dials confined to Rolex’s history books, these watches are a perfect way for collectors to capture a by-gone era and a golden age for the Crown.  Recently sold on Watch Collecting for £19,500

Since we’re talking about Rolexes with personality, here’s something that absolutely no one was anticipating at Watches & Wonders last year. From a company that’s known for small iterative updates and conservative styling, the collective watch world could barely believe its eyes when Rolex launched this ‘Celebration’ version of its Oyster Perpetual. Taking the dial colours from the similarly bold releases of 2020, this watch combines them all together to create 51 circles of fun. 

This release, in addition to other in-your-face references like the ‘rainbow’ Daytona, remind us that Rolex is willing to move away from its conventional aesthetic. It's also a sign that behind its austere facade, there’s some people with a sense of humour, and we fully support this. Click here to see our video review of the Celebration Oyster Perpetual. Recently sold on Watch Collecting for £9,330