The 50th anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15550ST will go down as one of the most accomplished years in AP history. All of the novelties and limited editions they launched further boasted their horological legacy in the watch industry. Of course, I had to get in on the festivities as well. I am super blessed and grateful to show my second AP, in my first year of collecting no less. Introducing my 37mm Royal Oak 15550. This particular model comes in a “Bleu Nuit Nuage 50” color and has the special “50 Years” engraving on the rotor. This rotor will only be produced in 2022, then discontinued and sent to collector’s heaven.

The movement is the new 5900 produced by Vaucher specifically for the 37mm Royal Oaks. It boasts a 60 hour power reserve and 4 Hz beat rate. It’s also slimmer, allowing the case to be svelter (is that a word?) than its predecessor. Speaking of the case, it comes in at just 9mm thick with a unisex size case of 37mm. It doesn’t have a screw down crown but it provides 50m of water resistance which is fine for everyday wear as long as you don’t go swimming. The 22 carat rotor on the movement has a 50 Years inscription which I believe will become super collectible and sought after in the coming years. I am lucky to have secured mine! The bracelet has a narrow taper now and is way more comfortable than in previous years. The iconic hand brushing and the complex beveling found damn near everywhere make this watch a true work of art. I can’t stop saying good things about this watch.

The main attraction is that dial though. The Bleu Nuit Nuage 50 is a nod to the original blue dial that Gerald Genta put on the first Royal Oak in 1972. It’s finished in Grand Tapisserie fashion putting the blue on full display. It looks stealthy and undercover from afar but up close you the see way it shimmers with the light and displays several hues of blue. The Audemars Piguet name on the dial is done in gold using galvanic growth. The dial overall is super clean and sharp.

This might just be the best blue dial on the market (sorry Vacheron fans).