Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Steel — Blue Grande Tapisserie Dial, Diamond Bezel, 38mm Chronograph | Ref. 26715ST.ZZ.1356ST.01

The 38 mm Royal Oak occupies a particularly versatile position within the collection — substantial enough to read as a statement piece, precise enough to slip beneath a cuff — and the ref. 26715ST.ZZ.1356ST.01 combines this ideal sizing with two of the house's most celebrated design elements: the sunburst-blue Grande Tapisserie dial and a bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds. The stainless steel case retains the full architectural vocabulary of Genta's 1972 original, from the integrated bracelet to the eight-screw bezel, while the diamond pavé elevates the proposition into high-jewellery territory without compromising the fundamentally sporty character of the design.

The self-winding movement — calibre 4401, AP's column-wheel flyback chronograph calibre — beats within. Its integrated architecture, designed from the outset for the Royal Oak's slim 10.4 mm case profile, allows column-wheel chronograph actuation with the trademark precision of a vertical clutch engagement. The flyback function — activated by the lower pusher at 4 o'clock — resets and restarts the elapsed-time measurement instantaneously, a complication particularly valued by those who use the chronograph as an active instrument rather than an aesthetic flourish.

The electric blue dial, produced on an electro-deposited base and then embossed with the Grande Tapisserie pattern, achieves its depth through the interaction of the guilloché relief with the thin film of coloured lacquer above it. Luminous applied hour markers and the signature Royal Oak hands ensure legibility across all light conditions. The stainless steel integrated bracelet, with its characteristic alternation of brushed and polished surfaces, and the AP folding clasp complete a reference that offers genuine chronograph functionality in one of horology's most distinguished cases. Water resistance is rated to 50 metres.