Introduced in 1972 and designed by Gérald Genta, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak became one of the most influential luxury sports watches in modern watchmaking. Its distinctive octagonal bezel, exposed screws and integrated bracelet established a design that would remain central to the collection for decades.

Introduced in 1992, reference 14800 marked an important departure from the original Royal Oak concept. Designed by Swiss watch designer Jörg Hysek, it became the first Royal Oak to be offered on a leather strap, challenging one of the collection's most recognisable design features. Measuring 36 mm, the model featured a redesigned, curved case with distinctive lugs and an unusual strap attachment system, secured by metal plates beneath the case. The reference remained in production for over a decade and was offered in numerous combinations of materials and dial configurations.

During the late 1990s, Audemars Piguet also introduced a new generation of automatic movements. The calibre 2125 was succeeded by the calibre 2225 in 1997, incorporating technical improvements including an increased frequency from 21,600 to 28,800 vibrations per hour.

Dating from circa 1999, the present example is housed in stainless steel and equipped with the updated automatic calibre 2225, representing an interesting chapter in the evolution of the Royal Oak during the 1990s.