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Lot 31
AUDEMARS PIGUET, ROYAL OAK REF. 25829TA, A LIMITED EDITION TANTALUM AND GOLD SKELETONISED PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH
CASE NUMBER: 82’705, No. 28; MOVEMENT NUMBER: 425'274
Closed27 October 2021
Price Realised
USD 187,500
More Information
Specialist note
Audemars Piguet introduced the perpetual calendar complication to the Royal Oak collection in 1983 with Ref. 5554 (later designated as the Ref. 25554). Back then, this was seen as a bit of a bold move – a high complication like the perpetual calendar was seldom presented in a sports watch.
The Ref. 25829TA is another example of Audemars Piguet pushing the envelope when it comes to case materials – the present watch is in two-tone metal. It features tantalum, a hard lustrous grey metal, with contrasting 18k yellow gold accents. Tantalum is a hard and expensive metal used extensively in aeronautical and medical industries. Hard to machine, it is highly resistant to corrosion and wear and has a distinct greyish blue lustre.
The result is a strikingly good-looking Royal Oak with a skeletonized perpetual calendar dial. The bracelet has a steel clasp featuring the stamps of Gay Freres, the celebrated bracelet maker. According to Audemars Piguet, the skeletonised Royal Oak perpetual calendars were made in a handful of configurations besides tantalum and yellow gold; they were also made in tantalum and pink gold and platinum and pink gold. All combinations featured a maximum production of just 15 pieces. The caseback features the number 28, this is the ‘Royal Oak’ number, not to be confused with the limited-edition number.
The Ref. 25829TA is another example of Audemars Piguet pushing the envelope when it comes to case materials – the present watch is in two-tone metal. It features tantalum, a hard lustrous grey metal, with contrasting 18k yellow gold accents. Tantalum is a hard and expensive metal used extensively in aeronautical and medical industries. Hard to machine, it is highly resistant to corrosion and wear and has a distinct greyish blue lustre.
The result is a strikingly good-looking Royal Oak with a skeletonized perpetual calendar dial. The bracelet has a steel clasp featuring the stamps of Gay Freres, the celebrated bracelet maker. According to Audemars Piguet, the skeletonised Royal Oak perpetual calendars were made in a handful of configurations besides tantalum and yellow gold; they were also made in tantalum and pink gold and platinum and pink gold. All combinations featured a maximum production of just 15 pieces. The caseback features the number 28, this is the ‘Royal Oak’ number, not to be confused with the limited-edition number.