Karl Lagerfeld (hereinafter referred to as Lagerfeld) has been a leader in the fashion world for many years and has had a major influence on not only fashion, but also art, design, and pop culture, making him truly worthy of being called a "legend" among fashion designers.
As creative director for global brands such as Chanel, Fendi, and Chloe, he has worked on numerous designs, and is also known for his achievements in designing his own signature brand and art projects.
This time, we will introduce the watch that Lagerfeld loved to wear. Please read to the end.
Karl Lagerfeld (September 10, 1933 - February 19, 2019)
Fashion designer and photographer from Hamburg, Germany.
A shiny black wristwatch in a monochrome photo
*Karl Lagerfeld 1979 Source: WatchProSite
While all-black watches are not particularly uncommon today, the world's first all-black watch was actually created by Porsche Design in 1972.
And the watch worn over the sleeve of the dress shirt in the photo is the all-black Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Jumbo" Ref. 5402ST, a favorite of Lagerfeld .
...!?
An all-black Royal Oak "Jumbo"!?
Moreover, this watch is about 45 years old, so around 1975-76.
,,,
That's right. The all-black "Jumbo" worn by Lagerfeld is not a mass-produced model, but a customized black case and bracelet to match the original black dial. It's amazing how much sense he had back then to customize.
Source: WatchProSite
It is said that Lagerfeld only wore black or white watches for most of his life. However, we can see that he owned and wore this watch since the mid-1970s in interviews and films, and that he was very fond of it.
Opening scene from the documentary film "Lagerfeld confidential" (2007)
Source: WatchProSite
A series with serial number 12xx (made around 1973)
Source: WatchProSite
This so-called "Jumbo" with the serial number "12xx" is an A-number Royal Oak made around 1973 and is known to have been shipped to Italy. However, the details of how it was customized to be all black are unknown. The mystery deepens, but the black-coated part has peeled off over the years, revealing the stainless steel of the bezel, giving it a calculated beauty that only comes out when it is aged.
Even so, the black dial of the early "Jumbo" is itself rare, making it an extremely rare model.
■MINI COLUMN■
The first time Audemars Piguet officially released a black PVD model was in 1999, when the first limited edition offshore chronograph, the Ref. 25770SN.OO.A001KE.01, was released with a limited run of 500 pieces. This model was made for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie End of Days.
What is the Royal Oak "Jumbo" "Ref. 5402ST"?
The Royal Oak, which was born in 1972, was the world's first luxury stainless steel sports watch and became a hot topic as it "overturned the conventional wisdom of luxury watches."
Designed by Gerald Genta, known as the genius watch designer, it features a simple two-hand design, a date display at the three o'clock position, a "Petite Tapisserie" dial with many small square guilloche engravings, and a subtle AP logo at the six o'clock position.
This first-generation Royal Oak was nicknamed "Jumbo" because of its 39mm case size, which was considered large at the time. It was equipped with Jaeger-LeCoultre's ultra-thin movement, Cal. 2121, and was waterproof to 50m, yet only 8mm thick, making it an avant-garde and innovative watch.
There are serial numbers A through D indicating the year of manufacture (the first batch, the "unbranded" one, is 5402"SA"), and all of them are now difficult to obtain and highly valued.
Currently, the "Extra-Thin" was released in 2012 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak, and is gaining popularity as it is a faithful reproduction of the first Royal Oak "Ref. 5402ST," commonly known as "Jumbo."
lastly
I was also impressed by the way Karl Lagerfeld wore his watch, but the Royal Oak remains an innovative watch, both then and now.
On the other hand, the concept of "customizing" a watch may have been invented by Lagerfeld . As a designer, he created many things, and his attention to watches may also play a role in why he is called the "Emperor of Fashion."
Lastly, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Jumbo" "Ref. 5402ST" arrived in stock just the other day. *As of April 28, 2021
This watch is manufactured in the B series (late 1970s). In addition to the original dial with the AP logo at 6 o'clock, the hands and indexes are slightly thinner and feature original tritium hands that have not been replaced.
For details, click here (product page)
This is a rare model that is not often seen on the market, so if you are looking for one, please feel free to contact us.
I hope this article helps you choose your favorite one.