Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Quantième Perpetuel 25554ST

AUDEMARS PIGUET, ROYAL OAK QUANTIEME PERPETUEL MODEL, REF. 25554ST, CASE NO. C-19635 AND 142 | Christie’s

Circa: Manufactured in 1987 Case material: Stainless steel Diameter: 39 mm. Bracelet material: Stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet Approximate wrist size: Overall length approximately 180 mm. Dial: Silvered Movement: Automatic Functions: French perpetual calendar and moon phases With: Audemars Piguet Extract from the Archives, service invoice from June 2010, setting pin, product literature, presentation box and outer packaging Certificate: No Box: Yes Remark: According to Audemars Piguet Heritage & Archives department, 315 pieces of stainless steel reference 25554ST were produced; according to AP Chronicles, Audemars Piguet presented the first Royal Oak with a perpetual calendar, model 5554 which was eventually renamed 25554, at the opening of the 1984 Basel Fair Note: The presentation box that accompanies this lot may not be the original “fitted box”. Please refer to paragraph A in the Conditions of Sale for further information. If you have any queries, please contact Watch Department at watcheshk@christies.com According to the Archives of Audemars Piguet, the present watch was manufactured in 1987 and sold in Germany. A true icon in the world of watch collecting, the Royal Oak was a disruptive force when introduced to the market nearly 50 years ago. The first luxury sports wristwatch, the model deeply changed the identity of the Audemars Piguet manufacture. Powered with the caliber 2120/2800, derived from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ultra-thin JLC 920 calibre movement, the initial Royal Oak featuring a perpetual calendar was the reference 5554 (later renamed 25554). The first examples of the timepiece did not feature a leap year indication or tapissery dial but scales to the moon phase and small “Audemars Piguet Automatic” script at six o’clock. Of particular interest, the present stainless steel example is fitted with a highly attractive silver-toned dial. Preserved in very good condition, this fine stainless steel version of the AP Quantieme Perpetuel automatic is both visually striking and highly wearable, yet at the same time a complicated and significant Audemars Piguet heritage timepiece. Its case shows full proportions and sharp edges, the overall appeal enhanced by the appealing white cream dial. It is furthermore offered with the presentation box and extract from the archives.