The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is widely regarded as Gérald Genta's most iconic creation, one that fundamentally reshaped the watch industry.
The Royal Oak pioneered an entirely new category of 'luxury sport' timepieces, introducing a distinctive design language that would go on to influence countless other manufacturers.
What is often overlooked, however, is that the Cobra is also a Genta design, released soon after the debut of the Royal Oak. While the first Royal Oak was reference 5402, the inaugural Cobra was reference 5403. To further appreciate Genta's exceptional design prowess, the Cobra features a unique bracelet produced by Gilbert R. Goschen, with a hallmark of "GRG". This polished mesh bracelet has a criss-crossing beads-of-rice pattern, giving it a scale-like appearance that earned this reference the fitting "Cobra" nickname.
