Audemars Piguet - The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE Geneva Saturday, May 11, 2019 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet
    Year: 2017
    Reference No: 26579CE.OO.1225CE.01
    Case No: J79'693
    Model Name: Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar
    Material: Ceramic
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 5134, 38 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Ceramic, max length 185mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Ceramic deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 41mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by fitted winding box, guarantee and instruction manual

  • Catalogue Essay

    It is not necessary to introduce the Royal Oak which for close to 50 years has been shaking up the haute horlogerie market with the introduction of many premieres. 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.

    In 2017 Audemars Piguet once again took the world by surprise by presenting the perpetual calendar Royal Oak in full ceramic livery. This was not the first time ceramic was used in watchmaking and even Audemars Piguet had used it in certain components, such as bezels. However, it was the first time a high horology watch brand was housing a sports watch in a full ceramic case and bracelet (a material that Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe do not use for the Overseas or Nautilus respectively).

    Ceramic is an almost scratch proof material but very difficult to use. According to Audemars Piguet, over 600 hours of research were necessary to develop the case and bracelet, and where is takes about six hours to machine, polish, hand-finish, and assemble a steel bracelet for a steel Royal Oak, the same procedure requests over thirty hours for the ceramic version.

    The dashing dark looks of the watch should not deter from its elegance and technical complexity. The slender case houses the automatic caliber 5134 based on the iconic calibre 2120 as found in the original 1972 Royal Oak.

    Other than the traditional calendar functions, the present Royal Oak has a 52 week indicator as well as a gorgeous moonphase display with a photorealistic moon on an aventurine background for the stars.

    One of the hottest watches on the market, to obtain the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in ceramic requests patience as the waiting list can stretch to a few years. The present example in excellent condition and complete with winding box and papers offers the collectors a superb opportunity to immediately obtain such a beautiful and hard to find timepiece.

  • 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. 26579CE.OO.1225CE.01
A very attractive and rare ceramic perpetual calendar wristwatch with bracelet, moonphases and week indicator with winding box and guarantee

2017
41mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF70,000 - 140,000 
€62,400-125,000
$70,500-141,000

Sold for CHF131,250

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Sale
+ 41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE

Geneva Auction 11-12 May 2019