From today till Sunday, 14 October, 2012, the Royal Oak 40th Anniversary exhibition will be open to the public at the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station in Singapore. It is worth a visit – the show covers every major model and evolutionary step of the Royal Oak, from the steel original of 1972 to the latest Offshore limited editions in modern materials.

Royal Oak c. 1972

Besides the watch displays, the gentleman who does the guillochage for the Royal Oak dials – not the Offshore dials which are stamped – is present to demonstrate and explain the technique. Discussing guilloche techniques and dial production at AP was the most fascinating part of the exhibition for me. On hand is a rose engine dating form 1918 which illustrates the precise and tedious process of dial decoration.

Remember that guided tours, and even transport, are available. Ample parking is available as well.

– SJX

The original steel Royal Oak Offshore chronograph of 1994

Other significant AP watches are on show too, including the world’s first automatic tourbillon