29
Audemars Piguet
Ref. 25686SP
Royal Oak "Tuscan"
A rare and attractive platinum and stainless steel limited edition perpetual calendar wristwatch with "Tuscan" dial, bracelet and presentation winding box
Full-Cataloguing
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 such timepieces, but an audacious move that housed a delicate complication in a steel sports watch.
Ever since, Audemars Piguet has been boldly pushing the boundaries with the perpetual calendar Royal Oak models, whether in terms of metals for the case or dial designs.
The present example is an incredibly seductive and visually arresting model in steel with a platinum bezel and center links, along with a gorgeous blue textured dial nicknames “Tuscan”.
This Royal Oak features a superb movement: caliber 2120/2800 which was born in 1977 making it at the time the world’s slimmest perpetual calendar movement with a thickness of only 3.95mm.
A watch of un-comparable charisma and in overall excellent condition, the present watch is number 16 from a limited edition of 25.
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.