Audemars Piguet - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII Geneva Saturday, May 8, 2021 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet
    Year: Circa 1995
    Reference No: 25829ST
    Movement No: 425'200
    Case No: E94896-407
    Model Name: Royal Oak Openworked Perpetual Calendar
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 2120 / 2802, 38 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet, max length 180mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 39mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Audemars Piguet Certificate of Origin, an extra link and Guarantee and Audemars Piguet leather travel box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Royal Oak is a timepiece that set the benchmark on many fronts. Not only was it the very first luxury sports watch when launched in 1972, it was also the very first luxury sports watch featuring a complication.

    In 1982, exactly 10 years after its launch, the Royal Oak was presented with a perpetual calendar, not only a rare complication at the time as very few brands were still producing them but the audacity of housing this delicate complication in a steel sports watch was mind boggling. Soon after Audemars Piguet merged its technical know how to its artistic dexterity by presenting a perpetual calendar Royal Oak with an open work movement, once again demonstrating the brand’s ability to think out of the box.

    It was not until the mid 1990s that the caliber 2120/2800 housed within the Royal Oak perpetual calendar models was upgraded to feature a leap year indicator placed within the months subdial at 12 o’clock, resulting in a change of the caliber reference to 2120/2802.

    Caliber 2120/2800 was born in 1977 making it the world’s slimmest perpetual calendar movement with a thickness of only 3.95mm.

    Reference 25829 is immensely charismatic thanks to its potent blend mixing the power of the Royal Oak case and delicate subtlety of an openwork movement allowing a unique view into the perpetual calendar movement.

    The combination of sublime technical execution and unmistakable looks has over time led the collector community to consecrate this model as one of the most interesting, attractive and collectible complicated Royal Oak executions.

  • Artist Biography

    Audemars Piguet

    Swiss • 1881

    A specialist in the manufacture of complications since it was established in 1881, Audemars Piguet never ceases to impress with a rich history of creating bold, even audacious, timepieces underpinned by traditional watchmaking at its finest. This Le Brassus-based Swiss manufacturer is one of only two major manufacturers still owned by the founding family. Since its earliest days, AP is considered a leader in the field of minute repeaters and grande complication pocket and wristwatches. The brand is devoted to preserving the history of watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux, showcased at their superb museum in Le Brassus.

    Today, the brand is best known for its Royal Oak models, a revolutionary luxury sports watch launched in 1972. Other key models include early minute repeating wristwatches, vintage chronograph wristwatches, such as the oversized reference 5020, perpetual calendar watches and the Royal Oak Offshore, first introduced in 1993.

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Ref. 25829ST
A very attractive and rare stainless steel wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moonphase display and bracelet

Circa 1995
39mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF70,000 - 140,000 
€63,500-127,000
$76,200-152,000

Sold for CHF277,200

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

 

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII

Geneva Auction 8 - 9 May 2021