
AP 'Jumbo ultra-thin' in stunning condition.
2007 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ Ref. 15202ST.OO.0944ST.01 with Papers
Reference: 15202ST.OO.0944ST.01
Serial: F07412
Year: 2007
Case: All stainless steel
Dimensions: 39mm excluding crown
Function: Date
Caliber: Audemars Piguet cal. 2121 Selfwinding
Strap: Original stainless steel AP bracelet with folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire
Box/Papers: No/Yes
The 1972 Royal Oak and its ultra-thin 39 mm descendants are often nicknamed “Jumbo” due to what was viewed at the time as their outsized diameter.
The term “Jumbo” has retained an informal connotation due to its popular origins. The word first appeared in a London slang dictionary in 1823 and denoted “a big, clumsy person, animal or thing.”. Since the early 21st century, the “Jumbo” adjective has become so widespread that it designates any watch deemed to be oversized by the standards of its time. A 1940s watch measuring 36 mm can thus be called “Jumbo” even though it is undersized according to 21st century norms. The same is true of the Royal Oak “Jumbo”: in 1972, 39 mm was an above-average size.
In the 1970s, the average size of men's watches was around 35–36 mm, even though the trend for sports watches, particularly diving models, tended to impose more generous measurements.
At 39 mm, the Royal Oak 5402 was the first Audemars Piguet watch produced in series and belonging to the oversized category. Its Calibre 2121 was then the world's thinnest selfwinding movement driving a date indication (3.05 mm). While it is probable that Gérald Genta wanted to give the Royal Oak an imposing diameter, his later testimonies do not mention this desire. It was the relatively large diameter of the movement (28 mm), coupled with the unusual case construction, that imposed such measurements.
From the second half of the 1970s, the Royal Oak became a collection. During its first 20 years, the Royal Oak (excluding perpetual calendar versions) came in just one 39 mm version, 95% of which were sold before 1982. It was not until 1992 that the "Jumbo" version was revived to mark the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak.
On June 6, 1999, the Audemars Piguet Product Committee expressed concern that Model 15002 was no longer available. Two weeks later, the Committee decided to replace the 15002 with a new reference, the Royal Oak 15202.
The Royal Oak 15202 was presented on March 30, 2000 at the SIHH (Salon Internationale de la Haute Horlogerie). It interpreted the original 5402 codes much more freely than the 14802 and 15002. For the first time, the Royal Oak "Jumbo" sported a silver-toned dial, available for both the steel and yellow gold variants. It featured a guilloché Grande Tapisserie pattern. The monocoque case, whose water-resistance had shifted to 50 m, retained the same proportions, while its sapphire caseback highlighted the mechanism’s beauty.
The example offered here is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ Ref. 15202ST with silver dial from 2007 in stunning condition.
The dial is flawless. The case is very strong, presenting super sharp bevels, preserving the original finishes, and remaining most probably unpolished with hardly any visible wear. The display case back is in the same condition. The bracelets’ condition is also the same, showing no stretch.
It is running well and keeping time, although service history is unknown.
It comes with its original guarantee papers showing it was sold by a Japanese retailer in 2009.
Macros of the dial and case are available under request.