Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref.14486St with Papers from 1988

Although the first case design dates from 1985, Model 14486 was launched in 1986 with three variants (steel, yellow gold and two-tone steel-yellow gold). Equipped with Calibres 2130 or 2131, Model 14486 did not appear under the Women's or Men's headings in the 1986 catalogue, but under the simple and unique Royal Oak category, thus reinforcing the idea of a unisex model.

As the successor to Model 4100 (or Royal Oak III) launched in 1977, Model 14486 continued the 35 mm size. It sometimes features a central seconds hand and there are versions with or without a seconds hand.

Calibre 2130 powering the first Royal Oak Model 14486 was derived from a Frédéric Piguet cal.950 movement blank. Its variant, Calibre 2131, was produced simultaneously with a different case diameter in order to allow for a greater variety of exteriors. In 1988-1989 the calibre evolved into Calibre 2150 and its variant 2151 following improvements, such as the possibility of adjusting the date without deregulating the hands.

From 1988 onwards, Model 14486 was offered with new dials and new materials. The two-tone tantalum and pink gold version was the first Royal Oak in tantalum with a mechanical movement. The white gold version (1989) is the rarest variation of the Royal Oak 14486, with only 9 units sold between 1989 and 1993.

Model 14486 is also distinctive in terms of its silicon seal, whose shape is modified in order to leave room for a longer tube for securing the crown stem in place and thus enable greater robustness while ensuring the water-resistance of the case. This seal profile is also found on various intermediate-sized Royal Oak models from the late 1980s onwards. the 4100 didn´t have a screw down crown but the 14486 did.

Its total production run corresponds to 1,932 units mainly sold between 1986 and 1996, although 11 units were still sold between 1997 and 2005.

Derived models: 14567 (1987), 14575 (1987), 14544 (1988) and 14674 (1989).

Brand: Audemars Piguet
Model: Royal Oak
Reference: 4100st
Year of Manufacture: 1988
Serial Number: N.2xx 
Material: Steel
Dimensions: 36mm
Crystal Material: Sapphire
Luminous Material: Tritium
Movement: Automatic
Length: 18.5cm 
Box/Papers: original papers included
Mechanical Functioning Warranty: 6 months

Comments: Watch is mostly unworn with very light scratches. Service crown.