|
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo Reveals Highlights from The Royal Oak 50th
A Sale Dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of Audemars Piguet’s Iconic Model
To be Held in Geneva on 6 May 2022
Featuring a Historically Important Reference 5402ST Bearing Number A2, the Earliest Known Reference 5402 to Come to the Auction Market
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, reference 5402ST A2 Estimate: CHF 200,000-400,000
GENEVA - 15 March 2022 - Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is delighted to announce “The Royal Oak 50th”, a thematic sale dedicated to the 50th anniversary of one of horology’s most iconic watches: Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak. The auction will be held on 6 May, 2022 at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva.
Launched in 1972 at Basel Fair, Audemars Piguet's introduction of the Royal Oak marked the beginning of the luxury sports watch market as we know it today, causing an immediate sensation as the watch industry had never seen anything comparable before. The Royal Oak is widely considered one of the most important and relevant watches in horological history - it invented a genre, there was a before and an after. This tightly curated sale will offer 88 of the finest, rarest and best-preserved Royal Oak wristwatches known to exist.
Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Continental Europe & Middle East, and Virginie Liatard Roessli, Watch Specialist and Head of Sale, commented: “This tightly curated sale will give a glimpse into the complex and diverse world of this horological icon. We can see how, with one single reference the 5402 from 1972, Audemars Piguet created not only a genre but also a design language that it then immediately started developing, experimenting with sizes, complications and metals. To the best of our knowledge, never have we seen or heard of such an assembly of so many historically important, rare and, in some cases, unique Royal Oak models gathered in one place or shown to the public. We are honored to be part of the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak and would like to thank the teams at Audemars Piguet’s archives department for their support.”
Highlights
Ref 5402ST A2 We are delighted to offer the earliest number reference 5402 to ever appear at auction as it bears the number A2, making it the second Royal Oak ever made! Adding an extra element of historical relevance is the fact that this watch was one of the four Royal Oak models presented to the press and public at the opening of the Basel watch fair in 1972. The watch is furthermore complete with its full set of accessories and remains unworn. Estimate CHF 200,000-400,000
Ref 5402ST – Karl Lagerfeld Black PVD coated “A series” Estimate CHF 100,000-200,000
Ref 25831ST Tourbillon in Stainless steel Made in 1997, this reference was made in celebration of the Royal Oak’s 25th anniversary and featured for the first time a tourbillon. It was made in only 25 pieces of which the present example bears number 1. Estimate CHF 120,000-240,000
Ref 25865ST Grande Complication This impressive Royal Oak in stainless steel is a Grande Complication in the truest of horological sense as it elegantly brings together three extremely difficult complications to master: a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar and a split seconds chronograph. It is a unique piece. Estimate CHF 250,000-500,000
Ref 25990BC Grande Complication The second Grande Complication in our sale is also a unique piece. It is not only a technical marvel bringing together a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar and a split seconds chronograph, but its white gold case is lavishly set with diamonds as is its dial that features visually arresting mother of pearl subdials. Estimate CHF 250,000-500,000
Ref 25636PT Openwork Perpetual Calendar in platinum This perpetual calendar in full platinum is one of the earliest variants to feature an openwork dial exposing the magical wonders of the perpetual calendar mechanism. Featuring rare midnight blue subdials, the model does not feature a leap year indicator. Only 41 pieces in platinum were made. Estimate CHF 200,000-400,000
Ref 25829TP Openwork Perpetual Calendar in platinum and tantalum One of only 16 pieces made, this timepiece features a mix of metals rarely seen in watchmaking. The matt sheen of platinum with the bluish/grey hues of the tantalum provides a fully captivating look. Estimate CHF 120,000-240,000
Ref 14802PT Jubilee in platinum Launched for the Royal Oak’s 20th anniversary in 1992, ref 14802 was available in an ultra-exclusive 20-piece edition in platinum, amongst which a very low number featured the beautiful blue “Tuscan” dial, like the one seen in this example. Estimate CHF 250,000-500,000
Auction The Royal Oak 50th: 6 May 2022, 2pm Location : Hôtel La Réserve, Bellevue, Geneva
Auction Viewing
United States: New-York 24-28 March Location: Phillips New York Office, 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Asia: Taipei 31 March - 3 April Location: Phillips at Art Roastery x Louisa Coffee No. 95, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City
Singapore 7-9 April Location: St. Regis Hotel, 29 Tanglin Rd - Singapore 247911
Europe: London 21-24 April Location: Phillips’ HQ, 30 Berkeley Square, London Geneva
Geneva: 4-8 May Location: Hôtel La Réserve, Bellevue, Geneva
###
ABOUT PHILLIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO The team of specialists at Phillips Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service, achieving a global auction sale total of $209.3 million in 2021, the most successful year for any auction house in watch auction history.
A selection of our record-breaking prices:
1. Paul Newman’s Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona reference 6239 (CHF 17,709,894 / US$17,752,500) – New York Auction: Winning Icons – 26 October 2017 – Highest result ever achieved for any vintage wristwatch at auction.
2. Patek Philippe reference 1518 in stainless steel (CHF 11,020,000 / US$11,112,020) – Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR – 12 November 2016 – Highest result ever achieved for a vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch at auction.
ABOUT PHILLIPS Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world. In addition to providing selling and buying opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
PRESS CONTACTS: GENEVA - Asta Ponzo, PR Consultant aponzo@phillips.com +41 79 961 85 66 LONDON - Katie Carder, Head of Press, Europe kcarder@phillips.com
|
||||||||
|
PHILLIPS NEW YORK - 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 PHILLIPS LONDON - 30 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6EX PHILLIPS HONG KONG - 14/F St. George’s Building, 2 Ice House Street, Central Hong Kong PHILLIPS GENEVA - Rue de la Confédération, 7 Geneva 1204
VISIT US AT: www.phillips.com FOLLOW US ON: Twitter | Instagram | Vimeo | Facebook | LinkedIn | Weibo| WeChat (use QR Code) |
|
|||||||
