Audemars Piguet - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet
    Year: 1988
    Reference No: 14486TR
    Movement No: 301'578
    Case No: C12001 and 13
    Model Name: Royal Oak
    Material: 18K pink gold and tantalum
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 2131, 19 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K pink gold and tantalum Audemars Piguet bracelet, max length 185mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold and tantalum Audemars deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 36mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Audemars Piguet Extrait de Registre.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Audemars Piguet was one of the very first brands to use Tantalum in its line of production. Rarely used in watchmaking due to its hardness, tantalum is a heavy, hard and lustrous metal, which exhibits an alluring dark and modish luster. Very high temperatures are needed for tantalum to be adapted, and once it has been formed it is highly corrosion-resistant and extremely durable. According to our research, Audemars Piguet pioneered their first tantalum watch at the behest of King Juan Carlos of Spain, who wanted a Royal Oak with a stealthy tone.

    Aesthetically speaking, the present watch has an alluring appeal which would not be an overstatement to call it of the most stunning Royal Oak iterations. With a beautiful grey dial, 18K pink gold bezel and accents, the present timepiece impeccably epitomizes the union of unmissable good looks and sublime technical expertise. An extremely early example, it is numbered 13 and was produced in 1988. Furthermore, the dial displays the correct and early "Audemars Piguet" font where "A" and "P" are the same size as the rest of the letters in "Audemars Piguet".

  • 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.

    View More Works

22

Ref. 14486TR
A highly rare, early and attractive tantalum and pink gold wristwatch with center seconds, date and bracelet

1988
36mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF10,000 - 20,000 
€9,300-18,600
$10,800-21,600

Sold for CHF52,920

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021