Audemars Piguet A Subtle Echo of Genta’s Geometric Aesthetics｜Audemars Piguet “Bamboo” Octagonal Automatic Dress Watch｜Serviced, Watch Only Vintage

When turning the pages of Audemars Piguet’s watchmaking history, the boldest and most celebrated chapter undoubtedly belongs to the Royal Oak of the 1970s. Even those casually familiar with the brand can recount its origin story: Gérald Genta—often hailed as the “Picasso of watchmaking”—drew inspiration from the octagonal portholes of British Royal Navy warships. At a time when round and rectangular cases dominated the industry, Genta’s octagonal design carved out an entirely new aesthetic language, profoundly reshaping the visual codes of modern watchmaking.
Yet this octagonal revolution did not belong solely to the Royal Oak. Hidden within Audemars Piguet’s archives lies a lesser-known chapter: during the 1970s and 1980s, the maison experimented with geometric forms in its dress watches. The rare octagonal dress watch presented here stands as a quiet but compelling testament to that exploratory era.
Compared to the Royal Oak’s sports lineage, executing an octagonal case in a dress watch posed a far greater technical challenge. The octagonal form requires structural thickness to preserve its crisp edges and stable proportions, while dress watches demand slimness and refined wrist presence—leaving little margin for excess material. Achieving visual sharpness and structural integrity under such constraints is a true measure of watchmaking mastery.
With a compact 31.5 mm diameter, this octagonal dress watch exemplifies purity of form under pressure. The warm gold case is crisp and architectural, paired with a clean silver dial. Roman numerals lend linear balance, enhancing the harmony of the octagonal silhouette. Within this restrained scale, the tension between geometric precision and dress-watch elegance is perfectly resolved—an expression of Audemars Piguet’s distinctive craftsmanship of the era.
This watch is in stock at our atelier and has been fully serviced by Nicky Sir, with precise timekeeping. It is covered by a one-year service warranty from our workshop.
Available for viewing and try-on.