Audemars Piguet - The Royal Oak 50th Geneva Friday, May 6, 2022 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet
    Year: 2004
    Reference No: 25860ST
    Movement No: 529'724
    Case No: E95691, 6517
    Model Name: Royal Oak Chronograph "Kasparov"
    Material: Stainless Steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal 2385, 37 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet, max length 195mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 39mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Audemars Piguet undated Certificate of Origin stamped Watch Connexion - Bristol Costa Mesa, instruction for use booklet, outer packaging and fitted presentation box. Further accompanied by Audemars Piguet and Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo co-signed Royal Oak 50th Anniversary Attestation.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Tropical dials can be appreciated both for their looks, and for their irony as well. What was a defective dial evolved to the point of being more collectible than the same dial without the aforementioned “defect”. Basically, it is serendipity at its apex.

    While some brands have a number of watches on which tropicalization is known to occur (Rolex is an example above all, with tropical dials found on early Submariners, GMTs and Milgauss as well as modern 116520), this occurrence is much more uncommon for Audemars Piguet. Not only is the number of references which are known to tropicalize much smaller - the best known examples are ref. 5402, ref. 15002 and “The Beast” 25721 - but also the number of examples that do tropicalize would appear to be, judging by historical result, very much restricted.

    The present example of ref. 25860 is already a representative of this rarefied category - and thus supremely collectible - but it can be furthermore considered as the most uncommon topicalization to be found on Audemars Piguet pieces. While usually - such as in all the examples provided above - the original dial color is black and it tends to change to chocolate, in this instance the original dial color was white and it has now achieved an incredibly attractive light mustard/chestnut hue hardly ever seen on Audemars Piguet pieces. Finally, it is important to note how the tropicalization is absolutely even, as if it was the original dial color.

  • 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. 25860ST
A very attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with tropical dial, date, bracelet , original papers and box

2004
39mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 
€29,500-58,900
$31,900-63,700

Sold for CHF100,800

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi

Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

+41 22 317 81 81
AGhotbi@phillips.com

 

Virginie Liatard-Roessli
Head of Sale, Specialist
+41 76 338 91 03
vliatard@phillips.com

The Royal Oak 50th

Geneva Auction 6 May 2022