The best Royal Oak for investment is usually a steel, time-only reference with deep demand, such as the 16202ST "Jumbo" or the 41mm 15510ST, bought full set at a fair price. UK dealers ask very different amounts for each reference (table below, seen November 2026), and no Royal Oak is guaranteed to hold its value.
Key Facts for November 2026
| Question | Short answer (UK asking prices, seen 15 November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Highest asking prices in our table | The Jumbo Extra-Thin: about £77,000 for the 16202ST and about £82,500 for the 15202ST, one UK listing each |
| Most listings and tightest range | 15510ST, £33,950 to £49,950 across nine listings |
| Cheapest steel entry we found | 15400ST, £25,995 to £32,000 |
| No longer made | 15202ST (end announced April 2021), 15400ST (2012 to 2019), 15500ST (replaced by the 15510ST) |
| Offshore | A separate market; see the pointer row in the table |
| What this guide does not do | Forecast prices or quote returns. AP publishes no UK price list online, so we do not state a premium over list |
Best Royal Oak for Investment: The Reference Table
The best Royal Oak for investment is easiest to compare reference by reference, with the years, case size and movement beside what UK dealers are asking now.
| Reference | Made | Size | Calibre | UK pre-owned asking, November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16202ST "Jumbo" Extra-Thin | From January 2022 | 39 mm | 7121 | about £77,000 (one listing) |
| 15202ST "Jumbo" Extra-Thin | 2000 to 2021 | 39 mm | 2121 | about £82,500 (one listing) |
| 15500ST | From 2019, then replaced by the 15510ST | 41 mm | 4302 | no live UK listing found |
| 15510ST | 2022 (50th Anniversary run), regular production from 2023 | 41 mm | 4302 | £33,950 to £49,950 (nine listings) |
| 15400ST | 2012 to 2019 | 41 mm | 3120 | £25,995 to £32,000 (four listings) |
| 26240ST chronograph | From January 2022 | 41 mm | 4401 | £37,950 to £51,950 (five listings) |
| 26574ST perpetual calendar | Calibre 5134 dates from 2015; the 26674ST took over in 2025 | 41 mm | 5134 | no live UK listing found |
| Royal Oak Offshore 26420 (pointer) | From about 2021 | 43 mm | 4401 | £24,950 to £39,495 (nine listings, several materials) |
These are asking prices from live UK dealer listings (Watchfinder, Chisholm Hunter and Watchtrader), not completed sales. A single listing is one dealer's opinion, so treat the two Jumbo rows as a marker rather than a market range. Years and calibres come from Audemars Piguet's own pages and AP Chronicles, checked against Monochrome, Wrist Enthusiast and SJX. The 15510ST is dated slightly differently by different sources, so we give both the 2022 anniversary run and the regular 2023 production.
Which Royal Oak Holds Its Value? Reading the Table
A Royal Oak holds value when buyers keep wanting the exact reference, and the table shows three groups.
The Jumbo: 16202ST and 15202ST
The Royal Oak Jumbo is the thin, 39 mm steel watch closest to Gérald Genta's 1972 original, and its asking prices are the highest in the table. The 15202ST was presented in March 2000 and AP announced its end in April 2021. The 16202ST followed in 2022 for the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary, with the new calibre 7121 (a 55-hour reserve, against 40 hours for the old 2121). The 15202ST can no longer be made, which is why collectors watch it, and you will see it called the Royal Oak 15202ST in most dealer listings. The Jumbo's weakness is its price: at £77,000 or more, any fall in the market costs more in pounds than it would on a cheaper watch.
The 41mm steel time-and-date: 15400ST, 15500ST and 15510ST
The 41mm time-and-date is the watch most people picture when they say "AP Royal Oak", and the AP Royal Oak 41mm is the easiest to buy and sell. The 15400ST (2012 to 2019) used calibre 3120; the 15500ST arrived at SIHH in 2019 with the in-house calibre 4302, which beats at 4Hz and runs for 70 hours; the 15510ST carries on with the same movement. With nine live listings the 15510ST gives the clearest picture: asking prices from £33,950 to £49,950, depending on dial, year and condition. Older 15400ST examples start lower, at £25,995. Searches for the Royal Oak 15500ST often turn up sold-out pages, because we found no live UK listing for it in November 2026. Depth of supply cuts both ways: a watch many dealers list is quick to sell, but buyers can also compare prices easily.
The complications: 26240ST and 26574ST
The 26240ST steel chronograph (January 2022, calibre 4401, a flyback chronograph with a 70-hour reserve) asked £37,950 to £51,950 across five listings. The perpetual calendar 26574ST is now the previous generation, because the 26674ST with the new calibre 7138 launched in 2025 and the last Royal Oak perpetual calendar on calibre 5134 was a limited edition. We found no live UK listing, which tells you the market is thin. A complication costs more to service, as our Audemars Piguet service cost guide explains.
Best Royal Oak for Investment: What the Market Has Done
The best Royal Oak for investment has to be judged against a market that has already gone down as well as up. Royal Oak prices rose sharply to a peak in 2022 and then fell; a July 2025 report citing WatchCharts and Morgan Stanley data said that some AP models were selling below retail for the first time since 2022, and that the flagship Royal Oak still carried a modest premium that was shrinking. That report is secondary and based on US prices, so we use it only for direction. Our own evidence is narrower: in November 2026 UK dealers are still asking £25,995 to £51,950 for steel 41mm references.
That is why the best Royal Oak for investment is rarely the most expensive one. Whether you look at the Royal Oak 15202ST, the Royal Oak 15500ST or a newer 15510ST, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak price you pay on the day matters more than any headline about the market. The sensible conclusion is that "holds value" means "is still wanted at roughly what you paid", not "goes up". An AP Royal Oak pays no income, needs servicing, and a dealer buys below the price a collector pays. For the brand-level view, including the Code 11.59, read our guide to Audemars Piguet investment.
Thinking of selling?
Knightsbridge Watches buys pre-owned luxury watches at 88 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, opposite Harrods. Bring your watch in for a valuation, or send us photos and details.
Is the Jumbo the Best Royal Oak for Investment, or the 41mm?
The Royal Oak Jumbo is the purist's choice and the 41mm is the practical one. The Jumbo is closest to the 1972 design, its older 15202ST is finite, and demand has stayed high enough to put asking prices at £77,000 or more. The 41mm 15510ST asks £33,950 to £49,950, and there are plenty to compare. If you are buying one Royal Oak for investment and want the easiest exit, the 41mm steel time-and-date is the lower-risk answer. If you want the reference collectors talk about, it is the Royal Oak Jumbo.
Two further questions come up often:
- Does the dial colour matter? The blue Grande Tapisserie (Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50) matches the colour of the original 1972 watch. The highest 15510ST asking price we saw, £49,950, was a blue example, but years and condition differ between listings, so we cannot show a fixed premium for blue.
- What about the Offshore? The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is a separate, bolder watch. Asking prices for the 26420 run from £24,950 to £39,495 depending on material, and the 2025 report above said the Offshore was selling further below retail than the Royal Oak. If you own one, see how to sell Audemars Piguet Offshore without papers.
Best Royal Oak for Investment by Budget
Your budget narrows the choice more than any ranking, so here is the same table sorted by what you plan to spend, using the November 2026 asking prices above.
| Budget | Royal Oak to look at | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Up to about £35,000 | 15400ST, or the lowest-priced 15510ST | The 15400ST is the older 41mm on calibre 3120. Check the bracelet and the bevels closely, because older watches have had more time to be polished |
| About £35,000 to £55,000 | 15510ST or 26240ST | The newest 41mm time-and-date and the steel chronograph. Both use current in-house movements |
| About £75,000 and above | The Royal Oak Jumbo, 16202ST or 15202ST | The purist's choice. One UK listing each when we looked, so compare asking prices before you commit |
| Offshore, from about £25,000 | 26420 | A different watch with a different market. We treat it as a pointer here |
The best Royal Oak for investment at any budget is the one with the original bracelet, unpolished case and full set. A cheaper watch that has been refinished is usually worth less than the asking price suggests.
New, Pre-Owned or Vintage: Where to Buy
Most buyers of the best Royal Oak for investment end up buying pre-owned, because it is available now and you can see the watch before you pay. A new watch from AP's boutiques or retail partners depends on availability, and AP publishes no UK price list online, so we cannot give you a verified list price to compare. Vintage references from the 1970s, such as the original 5402, are a collector's market with auction-level prices, and sit outside this guide. If you buy pre-owned, buy from a seller who inspects the watch, tells you the reference and year, and puts the condition in writing.
Best Royal Oak for Investment: What to Check Before You Buy
A Royal Oak price only means something if the watch is original and complete, whether you are weighing an AP Royal Oak 41mm or a Jumbo. Use this checklist each time:
- Check the reference and calibre. Match the reference to the table, and have a watchmaker confirm the movement.
- Check the numbers. AP engraves a case number on the caseback or inside the case, and a movement number on the baseplate or a bridge. They should agree with the paperwork.
- Ask for the box, papers and service history. A full set makes a watch easier to resell.
- Look at the case and bezel. Sharp bevels and clean brushed surfaces mean the watch has not been over-polished. Our guide to how condition affects Audemars Piguet value explains why.
- Compare at least three asking prices for the same reference and year before you agree a price.
- Keep the receipt. It helps when you come to sell.
At Knightsbridge Watches: Selling or Sourcing a Royal Oak in London
Knightsbridge Watches is an independent watch buyer and workshop at 88 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1ER, opposite Harrods, with over 30 years' experience. We are not an authorised Audemars Piguet dealer.
If you own a Royal Oak and are wondering whether to hold or sell, bring it in and we will inspect it and make an offer. Our page explains how to sell Royal Oak watches in London, or you can send the watch fully insured if you are outside London. Payment is by bank transfer or cash once the watch is inspected. We also offer part-exchange, and we can source a particular reference for you through our pre-owned Audemars Piguet service. Bring the box, papers and any service records so we can value the watch properly.
We are open Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:30 and Saturday 10:00 to 17:00. Call 08000 337 333 or message 07733 333 212. If you have other watches to part with, see how to sell my watch in London.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best Royal Oak for investment?
The best Royal Oak for investment is usually a steel, time-only reference with deep demand, such as the 16202ST Jumbo or the 41mm 15510ST, bought full set at a fair price. UK asking prices seen in November 2026 run from about £25,995 to £77,000 across those references. No Royal Oak is guaranteed to hold its value.
Is the Jumbo the best Royal Oak for investment, or the 41mm?
The Jumbo is the closest to the original 1972 design and carries the highest asking prices in our table, about £77,000 for the 16202ST. The 41mm 15510ST is cheaper, at £33,950 to £49,950, and far easier to find. Neither is certain to hold value; the 41mm simply asks less money to be wrong.
Do Royal Oaks hold their value?
Steel Royal Oaks still attract strong asking prices, but not in a straight line. Prices rose to a peak in 2022 and then fell, and a July 2025 report citing WatchCharts and Morgan Stanley data said the premium over retail was shrinking. Condition, originality and a full set all affect what a buyer pays.
How much is an average Royal Oak?
On UK dealer listings seen in November 2026, a steel 41mm Royal Oak 15400ST or 15510ST asks about £25,995 to £49,950. The 26240ST chronograph asks about £37,950 to £51,950, and a Jumbo about £77,000 or more. Asking prices are not completed sales, so the price a buyer actually pays can differ.
Which Royal Oak is the most popular?
By the number of UK dealer listings we found, the 41mm steel time-and-date references, the 15400ST and 15510ST, are the most common Royal Oaks on sale. The 15510ST alone had nine listings. Popularity does not guarantee a rising price, but it does make a watch easier to sell.
Is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak still rising in price?
We cannot say, and we do not forecast. Reports in 2025 described the Royal Oak's premium over retail as shrinking after the 2022 peak, while dealers still ask well above the price of most luxury watches. Check several current asking prices for your exact reference before you decide to buy or sell.
Does a blue dial Royal Oak hold value better?
The blue Grande Tapisserie dial is the colour most associated with the original 1972 watch, and the highest 15510ST asking price we saw, £49,950, was a blue-dial example. Years, condition and dealer margins differ, so we cannot say blue earns a fixed premium. Compare the same reference and year before you pay more.
Should I buy a Royal Oak new, pre-owned or vintage?
Buying new means going through AP's own boutiques or its retail partners, where availability varies by reference, so many buyers go pre-owned, where a watch is available now and you can compare asking prices. Vintage references from the 1970s are a different, collector market. Whichever you choose, buy with box, papers and a clean service history, and have the watch inspected.
Where can I sell a Royal Oak in London?
You can sell a Royal Oak at Knightsbridge Watches, 88 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, opposite Harrods. Bring the watch with any box and papers for inspection and an offer. Payment is by bank transfer or cash once the watch is inspected, and sellers outside London can post it fully insured. Call 08000 337 333.
Related guides
Thinking of selling?
Knightsbridge Watches buys pre-owned luxury watches at 88 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, opposite Harrods. Bring your watch in for a valuation, or send us photos and details.
Open Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:30 and Saturday 10:00 to 17:00. Mobile and WhatsApp 07733 333 212.
Sources: Reference years and calibres: Audemars Piguet (audemarspiguet.com and AP Chronicles), Monochrome (28 Jan 2019, 25 Feb 2025), Wrist Enthusiast (26 Jan 2022), SJX (Jan 2022), Wristcheck. UK pre-owned asking prices seen 15 November 2026 on Watchfinder, Chisholm Hunter and Watchtrader listings. Market commentary: Mans World India (17 Jul 2025, citing WatchCharts and Morgan Stanley data). AP publishes no UK price list online. Dealer asking prices are not completed sales.