Audemars Piguet - The 2021 New York Watch Auction New York Saturday, December 11, 2021 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet
    Year: Circa 1993
    Reference No: 25636ST
    Case No: No. 18/25, D-42031
    Model Name: Royal Oak Quantième Perpetuel
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 2120, 38 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet, max overall length 190mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet “AP” deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 39mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Audemars Piguet Extract from the Archives, service card, and service box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    First launched in 1972, the Royal Oak was the world’s first stainless steel luxury sports watch with a fully integrated bracelet. Designed overnight in response to an urgent request for an ‘unprecedented steel watch’, it was at the time the most expensive stainless steel watch ever made.

    In 1982, Audemars Piguet launched the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar – an exceptionally bold offering for the era. The brand would soon introduce a new design aesthetic, offering the Royal Oak with skeletonized dials and movements, which were virtually non-existent on wristwatches in the 1980s. These fully skeletonized watches allowed for a breathtaking view of the movement from both the front and back. They exemplified the very best of Swiss watchmaking, where non-essential metal from all of the movement’s plates and bridges were removed, and all remaining “skeletal” parts were hand engraved and finished.

    The present watch is part of a rare series of reference 25636 skeletonized perpetual calendar models sold by Audemars Piguet from 1986 through 1996. The reference 25636 was the last generation of skeletonized perpetual calendar models offered without a dedicated leap-year indicator, which would later be introduced on all subsequent Royal Oak perpetual calendar models by the mid-1990s. Consequently, these earlier generation, non-leap year models are highly appreciated by connoisseurs for the simple elegance of their less complicated dials.

    The present watch is an exceptionally rare version – one of just 25 stainless steel examples fitted with a rose-gold plated movement, the legendary caliber 2120. Its openworked, sapphire crystal dial features white sub-dials and outer minute track, with elegant, white gold baton hands. Appearing for the first time at auction, it is offered in excellent overall condition and represents a superb opportunity for the connoisseur.

  • 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. 25636ST
An extremely fine and very rare limited edition stainless steel, skeletonized perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phase and bracelet, number 18 of 25 pieces

Circa 1993
39mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed.

Estimate
$100,000 - 200,000 
CHF93,300-187,000
€89,100-178,000
HK$780,000-1,560,000

Sold for $441,000

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros

Head of Watches, Americas

+1 (212) 940-1293

WatchesNY@Phillips.com

 

The 2021 New York Watch Auction

New York Auction 11 - 12 December 2021