Audemars Piguet. An extremely fine, rare and impressive 18K white gold self-winding water-resistant minute repeating perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph wristwatch with week indicator, phases of the moon and bracelet, made to commemorate Audemars Piguet's 125th Anniversary
Audemars Piguet. An extremely fine, rare and impressive 18K white gold self-winding water-resistant minute repeating perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph wristwatch with week indicator, phases of the moon and bracelet, made to commemorate Audemars Piguet's 125th Anniversary

SIGNED AUDEMARS PIGUET, ROYAL OAK, GRANDE COMPLICATION AUTOMATIQUE, NO. 4, REF. 25865BC, MOVEMENT NO. 415429, CASE NO. E 26324, MANUFACTURED IN 2000

Details
Audemars Piguet. An extremely fine, rare and impressive 18K white gold self-winding water-resistant minute repeating perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph wristwatch with week indicator, phases of the moon and bracelet, made to commemorate Audemars Piguet's 125th Anniversary
Signed Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak, Grande Complication Automatique, No. 4, ref. 25865BC, movement no. 415429, case no. E 26324, manufactured in 2000
Cal. 2885 nickel-finished lever movement, 52 jewels, hand-engraved gold rotor depicting the letters AP, minute repeating on two polished steel hammers onto two gongs, the dark blue textured dial with applied luminous white gold baton numerals, white gold luminous hands, outer recessed tachymetre scale, four subsidiary dials indicating phases of the moon combined with numbers of the weeks, constant seconds combined with date, 30 minutes register combined with day, month combined with leap year display, in large and heavy tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case with octagonal bezel secured by eight white gold screws, the octagonal glazed display back secured by eight screws, repeating slide in the band, split seconds chronograph mechanism operated through two round chronograph buttons in the band and through the crown, 18K white gold Audemars Piguet link bracelet and deployant clasp, case, dial and movement signed
44 mm. wide

Lot Essay

Accompanied by Audemars Piguet 125th Anniversary Certificate, instruction manual, original sales tag, three spare bracelet links and setting pin. Furthermore delivered with the original fitted veneered presentation box containing the necessary equipment to be used as a humidor.

"Why simplify when you can make things more complicated?" The present watch beautifully exemplifies Audemars Piguet's motto when striving for new heights in the world of complicated timepieces. The combination of minute repeating, perpetual calendar with phases of the moon, numbers of the week and a split seconds chronograph with register is doubtlessly one of the most daring achievements in modern watch engineering. Made in an exceedingly small series to celebrate Audemars Piguet's 125th anniversary in 2000, the present watch can be considered one of the most impressive contemporary collector's pieces.

The Grande Complication is one of the peak models of the firm's legendary Royal Oak series, epitomizing the luxury sports wristwatch and continuing to captivate watch collectors and aficionados with undiminished power. From its introduction in 1972 to the present day, the Royal Oak model with its unique octagonal porthole bezel and hexagonal white gold screws whose slots form a perfect circle around the bezel struck a chord with watch lovers, and sired a dynasty of timepieces ranging from basic time and date models all the way to the present model, the Royal Oak Grande Complication with more than 600 parts and numerous functions.

To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is the first example of a Royal Oak Grande Complication model appear at auction to date.

More from Important Pocketwatches and Wristwatches

View All
View All