As early as the 1990s, Audemars Piguet was one of the first brands to capture the attention of collectors through its association with prominent athletes, creating limited editions that fully reflected their personalities.
One of the brand’s most iconic ambassadors was Nick Faldo, former world number one golfer and six-time Major champion.
Over the years, the strong connection between the Swiss manufacture and the English golfer led to the creation of several special editions, highly appreciated by collectors.
The present lot is reference 15097OR, a remarkable Royal Oak crafted in rose gold, featuring a 36 mm case and made even more distinctive by its unique dial configuration.
The silver dial features a design with two concentric circles: the larger outer circle has a brushed finish and hosts applied rose gold hour markers along with a date window at 3 o’clock; the inner circle displays the classic engraved “Petite Tapisserie” pattern, a hallmark of Royal Oak models.
Released in 1997 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak, this model was produced in a limited edition of just 325 pieces. It also pays tribute to Nick Faldo’s induction into the Golf Hall of Fame, which took place that same year.