Wristwatch connoisseurs and design freaks take note: The 40th anniversary celebration of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak starts today.

FORBES: Audemars Piguet Celebrates 40 Years Of The Royal Oak

Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and some Rolex models like the King Midas are extremely rare and hard to get.

FORBES: Wrist Watch Brands & Models Of High Value

As with so many things discovered belatedly, the earliest examples of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus, the original 1970s debut models, now appear in auctions with elevated prices due to scarcity.

WSJ: This Sporting Life

Included in the lot are a classic gold Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, a white travel watch from Girard-Perregaux, and a striking azure chronograph from (no watch list is complete without it) Patek Phillippe.

FORBES: How To Buy A Women's Watch: Hodinkee And GrandLife Will Show You The Way

Audemars Piguet has unveiled a new range of Royal Oak Offshore watches, including the first grand complication in the brawny sport watch range, which marks it 20th anniversary this year.

FORBES: Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak Offshore Gets Grand Complicated

One brand, Audemars Piguet, has outdone its rivals by producing a Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication .

WSJ: The Face of Watchmaking's Future at SIHH and GTE

It was a little late in coming but Audemars Piguet has finally pulled back the curtains on three Royal Oak Offshore Michael Schumacher Limited Edition watches.

FORBES: Connect

Less than five years after the Royal Oak appeared, Genta supplied a design to Audemars Piguet's rival watch house, Patek Philippe.

WSJ: This Sporting Life