Property from the Original Owner
848
Audemars Piguet
Ref. 25554BA
Royal Oak Perpetual calendar
An extremely fine, outstandingly well-preserved and one of the earliest yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with MK I dial, moon phases and integrated bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$500,000 - 1,000,000€63,700 - 127,000$64,100 - 128,000
HK$1,197,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Audemars Piguet
- Year
- 1986
- Reference No
- 25554BA
- Movement No
- 286’042
- Case No
- C19’532, No. 249
- Model Name
- Royal Oak Perpetual calendar
- Material
- 18k yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 2120/2800, 38 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet bracelet, max length 185mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K white gold and yellow gold Audemars Piguet folding clasp
- Dimensions
- 39mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Audemars Piguet setting pin. Further delivered with Audermars Piguet Extract from the Archives confirming the date of register of the present timepiece on 8th July 1986.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
This year marks the important event of the Royal Oak being half a century old, and collectors have reflected on the importance of commemorating one of the most exciting, charming and cherished models the firm has ever introduced.
First introduced as a time only luxury sports watch in steel with an integrated bracelet in 1972, the ingenious design was of the great and late Gerald Genta. An unusual release at the time during the peak of the quartz crisis, it commanded a higher price than a gold watch. However, the firm’s vision behind Genta’s ingenuity would prevail soon to come as the true pioneers behind the boom of the luxury sports wristwatch.
The first production of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar was launched in 1984. With the forward-thinking approach from the Managing Director George Golay fitting the thin workhorse caliber 2120/2800 into the Royal Oak case, making it one of the world thinnest automatic perpetual calendar watch.
The very first of them that was serially produced was the ref. 25554 and was made only in scarce quantities an estimated 279 examples across all metals including yellow gold, stainless steel and platinum.
The present example Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 25554BA with a MK I dial is one of the earliest examples to appear at auction featuring a C19 serial case with batch no. 249. Its dial of the earliest featuring three gold dotted indexes at 3, 9 and 12 o’clock and its small signature under the moon phase, it is further blessed with its state of preservation, boasting a crisp case with defined edges and an attractive layer of patina on the case indicating its prolonged period of inactivity.
First introduced as a time only luxury sports watch in steel with an integrated bracelet in 1972, the ingenious design was of the great and late Gerald Genta. An unusual release at the time during the peak of the quartz crisis, it commanded a higher price than a gold watch. However, the firm’s vision behind Genta’s ingenuity would prevail soon to come as the true pioneers behind the boom of the luxury sports wristwatch.
The first production of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar was launched in 1984. With the forward-thinking approach from the Managing Director George Golay fitting the thin workhorse caliber 2120/2800 into the Royal Oak case, making it one of the world thinnest automatic perpetual calendar watch.
The very first of them that was serially produced was the ref. 25554 and was made only in scarce quantities an estimated 279 examples across all metals including yellow gold, stainless steel and platinum.
The present example Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 25554BA with a MK I dial is one of the earliest examples to appear at auction featuring a C19 serial case with batch no. 249. Its dial of the earliest featuring three gold dotted indexes at 3, 9 and 12 o’clock and its small signature under the moon phase, it is further blessed with its state of preservation, boasting a crisp case with defined edges and an attractive layer of patina on the case indicating its prolonged period of inactivity.
Audemars Piguet
Swiss | 1881A 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.
Browse MakerToday, 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.