After New York and Milan, the exhibition event dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak, the iconic watch of the Audemars Piguet Manufacture, opened its doors on Tuesday June 5th in the evening at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.

The preview was attended by over 700 people who were welcomed by Jasmine Audemars, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, Tim Sayler, Audemars Piguet’s Chief Marketing Officer and Nicolas Besançon, Director of Audemars Piguet France. Among the invitees were the international celebrities Anggun, the actor Jean-Marc Barr as well as many French celebrities like actors Omar Sy and Lambert Wilson, actresses Julie Gayet, Cecile Cassel, Clotilde Courau, Elisa Tovatiand Virginie Ledoyen, along with singers Marc Lavoine and Patrick Bruel. Audemars Piguet’s guests also had the opportunity to see a live performance of music group Woodkid.

This is the first time that the Manufacture from Le Brassus has assembled over 100 iconic pieces from the 40 years-long history of the Royal Oak,the first luxury sports watch in steel. The ambience of the Art museum Palais de Tokyo provides the perfect space to celebrate the anniversary of this legendary timepiece.

The exhibition décor was designed to showcase not only the expertise and know-how of Audemars Piguet but also the boldness and modernity of a watch that revolutionised the way Haute Horlogerie looked forty years ago. The original set of the exhibition, with its blend of architecture, video, photography and sound environment, was designed by artists Sébastien Léon Agneessens, Quayola and Dan Holdsworth.

The exhibition, which runs from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 10th June in the Saut du Loup room at the Palais de Tokyo, will also offer all lovers of Haute Horlogerie and the Royal Oak the opportunity to meet and talk with a master watchmaker from Le Brassus and discover the guillochage machine with which the Manufacture crafts its famous tapestry dial, an emblem of the Royal Oakand one of the characteristics that have set this timepiece apart for 40 years now.

After Paris, the next stage of the Royal Oak 40 Years exhibition will head to Beijing from 30th August to 2nd September.