If you have decided to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches from your collection, or you are simply curious about what yours is worth, we would like to hear from you. We buy Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches outright, at our own risk and for our own stock. If you are holding a 15400ST, a 15500ST, a 15202ST Jumbo or an openworked 15407ST, we would like to make you an offer.
There is no commission, no listing period and no waiting for someone else to buy it. You deal with us directly, and the figure we agree is the figure that reaches your account.
How to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches to us
- Tell us about the watch. Reference number, year, and whether you have the box and papers. Photographs help but are not essential to get started; a few sent over WhatsApp give us enough for a quick initial valuation.
- We make an offer. Based on what that Royal Oak reference, in that condition, is actually achieving in the current market, not a formula.
- Bring it in or send it insured. Book an appointment at our Hatton Garden showroom, or post the watch to us free and fully insured if London is not convenient.
- Paid within 24 hours. When the Royal Oak has been authenticated in person and you accept the offer, we pay you that day by secure bank transfer.
Get a valuation for your Royal Oak
What affects what your Royal Oak is worth
When you sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches, the reference sets the starting point and the condition of the case and bracelet does most of the rest.
Reference and case size. The 15202ST Jumbo sits in a different bracket to the 41mm 15500ST, and the openworked references move differently again. The first thing we need from you is the reference number on the caseback.
Dial colour. Blue Tapisserie remains the benchmark, but grey, green and the limited dial variants can carry significant premiums. This is frequently where a private seller undervalues their own watch.
Case and bracelet finishing. The Royal Oak is defined by the contrast between brushed and polished surfaces. A case that has been over-polished loses the crispness of those edges, and that affects value more here than on almost any other watch.
Box, papers and links. A complete set with the original certificate and all removed links will always achieve more. If you no longer have them, we will still buy the watch – it simply changes the number.
Bracelet stretch. The integrated bracelet, with its tapering links, is half of the Royal Oak's design. Years of wear can loosen the links so the bracelet droops at the sides, and because the bracelet cannot simply be swapped for another, we look at it as carefully as the case.
Service history and original parts. A documented service by Audemars Piguet reassures the next owner. If parts such as the dial, hands or bezel screws were replaced, the originals are worth keeping, because owners who sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches with their original components intact tend to receive stronger offers.
Royal Oak references we see most
Gérald Genta's octagonal design was launched in 1972 with the 5402ST, the first Jumbo, and the collection has grown a long way since. Before you sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak pieces, find the reference on the certificate or caseback; it tells us far more than the name on the dial. These are the references that come up most often.
| Reference | Case | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 5402ST | 39mm steel | The original 1972 Jumbo, now a collector's watch |
| 15202ST and 16202ST | 39mm steel | Ultra-thin Jumbos; the 16202ST arrived in 2022 with calibre 7121 |
| 15400ST and 15500ST | 41mm steel | Grande Tapisserie dials; the 15500ST moved to calibre 4302 |
| 15450ST | 37mm steel | The smaller sibling of the 15400ST |
| 15407ST and 15407OR | 41mm | Openworked double balance wheel, in steel or rose gold |
| 26331 and 26240 | 41mm | Royal Oak chronographs, in steel and precious metals |
Audemars Piguet keeps details of its current collection on audemarspiguet.com, which can help you check a recent model. For older or discontinued references, send us photographs of the dial and caseback and we will identify the watch for you.
Finishing, the bezel and the Tapisserie dial
Everything on a Royal Oak is about light. The tops of the case and bracelet are brushed, the bevelled edges are polished, and the octagonal bezel is held by eight hexagonal screws. A careless polish blurs the lines between those surfaces and softens the bevels, which is why we ask anyone planning to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches to leave the finishing exactly as it is.
The dial matters just as much. Most modern Royal Oaks carry the Tapisserie pattern, in the larger Grande Tapisserie on 41mm models and the finer Petite Tapisserie on the Jumbo. Moisture marks, scratches near the hands or faded printing show up clearly on that textured surface. If you notice anything, mention it at the start; it helps us give you a figure that will not change when we see the watch.
Check the screws on the bezel too. They should be clean and undamaged, with no scratches around the slots from a tool slipping. Marks there suggest someone has worked on the case without the right equipment, and that is worth knowing about before we meet.
Box, papers and service records
Audemars Piguet watches are sold with a certificate or warranty card, and it is the single most useful document you can bring. Owners who sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches with the full set also hand over the box, the booklets and every link removed when the bracelet was sized.
- Audemars Piguet certificate or warranty card showing the serial number
- The presentation box, outer packaging and booklets
- All spare bracelet links, which are hard to source separately
- Service invoices, plus any original parts returned to you
- Your original purchase receipt, if you kept it
Missing something is not a reason to hold back. We still buy Royal Oaks without papers; we authenticate them carefully in person and tell you how the gap affects the figure. Our guide to box and papers explains why each item matters.
Getting ready to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches
Preparing to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches takes a few minutes, and it means our first figure is as accurate as possible.
- Do not polish the case or bracelet, however tempting the scratches are.
- Clean it gently with a dry microfibre cloth; avoid chemicals on the bracelet.
- Photograph the dial, the bezel screws, the case sides, the clasp and the caseback in daylight.
- Find the certificate or card and note the reference and purchase date.
- Put the presentation box, booklets, removed links and service invoices in one place.
- Write down anything you know has been replaced or repaired.
Selling an older or inherited Royal Oak
Royal Oaks from the 1970s to the 1990s, such as the 5402ST and the 36mm 14790, are a world away from a modern 15500ST. Originality is what counts most: the dial, the hands, the bracelet and its clasp, and how much of the original case finishing survives. If you are thinking of selling one, please do not have it restored or refinished first.
Older pieces often lose their paperwork over the years, and that is normal. Bring whatever you have, including service receipts and old correspondence, and we will authenticate the watch in person. If you need to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches that have passed to you from a relative, we will walk you and your family through each step before anything is agreed.
Questions we ask when you sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches
- Where and when was the watch bought, and do you still have the receipt?
- Has it been serviced, and if so, by whom?
- Has the case or bracelet ever been polished?
- Have any parts been replaced, and do you still have the originals?
- Are all the removed bracelet links with you?
None of these questions is a trap. Honest answers simply let us give you a figure that holds when we see the watch, rather than one that has to be revised later.
Sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches face to face in Hatton Garden
Our showroom is at 9 St. Cross Street, Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8UB, between Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations, both a short walk away. Appointments keep things private: nobody else is in the room while we look at your Royal Oak together. We are open from 10:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and from 12:00pm to 4:30pm on Saturday.
At the appointment we check the serial number, case markings and movement, look at the bracelet link by link, and talk through what we see. If you choose to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches in person, this is the moment to ask anything you like about how the offer is put together. You can also browse our pre-owned Royal Oak collection while you are here.
Sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches by insured delivery
If you live outside London, you can send the watch to us fully insured. Contact us before you post anything and we will explain how to pack it. We authenticate the Royal Oak on arrival, confirm the offer, and pay by secure bank transfer once you agree. If you plan to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches this way, agree an initial figure from photos first so there are no surprises.
Part exchange your Royal Oak
Not everyone who wants to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches is cashing out. Perhaps you want to move from a 15400ST to a chronograph, or from a Royal Oak to a Patek Philippe. With part exchange, the value of your watch is offset against the one you are buying from us in a single transaction. If your Royal Oak is worth more than the watch you choose, we pay you the difference.
Why sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches to us
We are buyers, not brokers. Your Royal Oak goes into our own stock, so the price we agree is what you receive, without commission, listing fees or hidden deductions. There is no waiting for a buyer and no consignment period. We are an independent specialist in Hatton Garden, and we judge each Royal Oak on its reference, finishing and completeness rather than discounting for the unknown.
A valuation costs nothing and commits you to nothing, whether or not you go on to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches to us. WhatsApp your photos to +44 (0)7888 888835 or call 0330 043 7777, and we will tell you where your Royal Oak stands.
Common questions
How quickly can you pay me?
Once we have seen the watch and you have accepted our offer, you are paid by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
Do I need the box and papers?
No. A complete set is worth more, but we buy watch-only pieces regularly and will tell you plainly what the difference is worth in your case.
Can I sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches that have been polished?
Yes. A light, skilled polish is common and we price for it. Heavy polishing that has rounded the bevels lowers the figure, but it does not stop us buying the watch. Please do not polish it again before you come in.
My bracelet feels loose. Should I have it repaired first?
No. Bring it as it is. We assess the stretch ourselves, and our sister business Alpha Group, in the same building, handles servicing and repairs, so we can account for any work fairly.
Do you buy Royal Oak chronographs and Offshore models?
Yes. We buy Royal Oak chronographs, openworked models and the Royal Oak Offshore, in steel and in precious metals. Send the reference and some photos and we will come back to you with a figure.
Can I sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches with aftermarket diamonds?
Yes, but aftermarket setting is valued very differently from factory gem-setting, and it usually lowers the figure compared with an original watch. Tell us at the start if stones have been added so that our first figure is realistic.
Planning to sell Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches soon? Request a valuation | Other watches we buy | Speak to our team
Kings & Queens Watches is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with Audemars Piguet.
