1084Σ︎
Audemars Piguet
Ref. 25643PT/O/0022CR/01
Tourbillon Automatique
A historic, groundbreaking and the only known platinum tourbillon wristwatch with blue dial and warranty
Full-Cataloguing
- Fresh to the market and offered from its original owner
- Only known with blue dial platinum configuration
- The lightest and smallest sized tourbillon wristwatch of its time
- Houses the cal. 2870, the first self-winding tourbillon movement
Audemars Piguet entrusted young constructor Serge Meylan, delivering the 3.06mm thick ultra-thin cal. 2870 in 1986. It was the first self-winding tourbillon movement in the world, and it was the first tourbillon that had a titanium cage.
The ref. 25643 had a short production span, and was only available in yellow gold and platinum. There were 360 yellow gold pieces, while only 22 pieces were made of platinum. The platinum watches were manufactured only from 1990 to 1992, increasing the rarity of each piece. In fact, the present piece is the 3rd platinum piece seen on the auction market.
What makes the present piece even more intriguing is the configuration. The tourbillon at 11 o’clock, of course, is something that is not often seen on watches. Jacqueline Dimier’s idea of placing the tourbillon at 11 o’clock is a reference to astronomical metaphor, where the dials of the reference feature sunray-like motifs. Fresh to the market and the only example known, the present watch features a blue dial and guilloché combo with “AP” logo at 12 o’clock, something that has not been seen on other auctioned examples. Only one similar model in yellow gold with black dial is documented in the Audemars Piguet 20th Century Complicated Wristwatches II.
Offered in excellent condition from its original owner, this is a rare opportunity to acquire such important piece in horological history.
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.