Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin 39mm Steel — Blue Petite Tapisserie | Ref. 26670ST.OO.1240ST.02

The Royal Oak "Jumbo" — so nicknamed because 39mm was considered oversized for a dress watch in 1972 — remains the purest expression of Gerald Genta's original vision. Reference 26670ST honours that founding brief in stainless steel, with the Calibre 2121 ultra-thin automatic movement (just 3.05mm thick) keeping the total case height at a remarkable 8.1mm. This is the watch that proved luxury steel sports watches were a viable category, and half a century on it remains the reference by which all successors are judged. The Petite Tapisserie pattern on the blue dial — smaller pyramids than the later Grande variant — faithfully evokes the earliest production pieces.

The blue dial on the 26670ST has a quality that collectors describe as almost three-dimensional: the Petite Tapisserie catches and releases light as the wrist turns, producing a living, shifting surface that photographs consistently fail to capture accurately. Luminous-coated baton hands and polished steel applied indices provide clean legibility. The alternating brushed and polished surfaces of the integrated stainless steel bracelet — achieved via laborious hand-finishing — demonstrate why AP justifies the premium these pieces command over lesser sportswear.

With box and papers, the 26670ST represents something beyond mere collector desire: it is an entry point into watch history. The Jumbo Extra-Thin is the original Royal Oak, and the stainless steel version has historically demonstrated stronger long-term value appreciation than most alternatives in the AP catalogue. At 39mm with an ultra-thin profile, this is equally appropriate as an everyday companion or a centrepiece of a serious collection.