Important Watches: Part I
Important Watches: Part I
Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, Reference 25636SP.OO.0944SP.01 | A stainless steel and platinum skeletonized perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phase | Circa 1994
Auction Closed
May 12, 11:39 AM GMT
Estimate
140,000 - 240,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: skeletonized
Calibre: cal. 2120/2800 automatic, 36 jewels
Movement number: 391'015
Case: stainless steel and platinum, sapphire crystal display case back secured by 8 screws
Case number: D42'005, 20/25
Closure: stainless steel and platinum Audemars Piguet bracelet
Size: 39 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 185 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: no
Accessories: Audemars Piguet digital Extract from the Archives, insurance valuation, receipt, instruction manual, phone book with leather bifold, leather document holder, notepad with leather bifold, 18k white gold setting pin and presentation case with outer packaging
This present lot could be considered as the pinnacle of the Royal Oak complicated collection. It gathers all the characteristics one could possibly desire. When it comes to the celebrated Le Brassus based Manufacture, two thoughts immediately spring to mind: Royal Oak and perpetual calendar.
There is no surprise that AP decided to equip their spearhead model with this complication. The Royal Oak was first introduced with a perpetual calendar under the reference 5554 (later renamed 25554) in 1983 and made available the following year.
The current reference 25636SP is a collector’s dream. From 1986 on until 1997 a total of only 313 units of these wtaches were sold. The stunning "SP" version (steel and platinum) is even rarer: it is a limited edition of 25 units, of which 16 were sold in 1994 and 9 in 1995. To underline the aesthetic difference to the steel model (25636ST) and to the platinum model (25636PT), the watchmakers mirror-polished the platinum bezel and studs. The steel parts are finely brushed except for the polished bevels.The current watch comes with it's original box, branded noted pads and a phone book all accompanied by a leather bifold and a digital extract from the archives. The watch is displayed in the book 'Audemars Piguet 20th Century Complicated Wristwatches' on page 283.