The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding reference 15550ST.OO.1356ST.04 is a 37mm stainless steel timepiece released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak collection. It features a “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” Grande Tapisserie dial, a hue that pays homage to the original 1972 model. This reference incorporates several design evolutions, including wider polished bevels on the case and a more tapered, thinner integrated bracelet for improved ergonomics. The watch has a case thickness of approximately 9mm to 9.3mm and maintains a water resistance of 50 meters, notably featuring a crown that no longer utilizes a screw-down functionality in this specific generation.
The watch is powered by the automatic caliber 5900, a movement that replaced the previous caliber 3120. This movement operates at a frequency of 4Hz and provides a power reserve of approximately 60 hours. A defining characteristic of this anniversary edition is the dedicated “50 Years” oscillating weight, crafted in rhodium-toned 22K pink gold, which was exclusively fitted to models produced during the 2022 jubilee year. In terms of complications, the dial remains clean and functional, displaying hours, minutes, center seconds, and a date window at the 3 o’clock position.
General reviews of the 15550ST highlight its versatility as a unisex model, noting that the 37mm case size often wears more like a 38mm or 40mm watch due to the integrated lug design. Critics and enthusiasts often praise the refined silhouette and the removal of the “Automatic” text from the dial, which provides more breathing room for the Tapisserie pattern. While the absence of a screw-down crown is occasionally cited as a minor drawback for those seeking maximum reassurance, the watch is widely regarded as a successful modernization of Gérald Genta’s original design, blending historical prestige with contemporary mechanical upgrades.