CIRCA: 1997
CASE MATERIAL: Tantalum case with 18k yellow gold bezel and crown
DIAMETER: 39 mm.
BRACELET: Audemars Piguet integrated tantalum and 18k yellow gold bracelet
DIAL: Skeletonised dial with month and leap year indication at 12 o’ clock, date at 3, moon-phase at 6, and days of the week at 9 o’ clock
MOVEMENT: Cal. 2120/2802 automatic,
FUNCTIONS: Time, perpetual calendar, moon-phase indication, leap year indication
CLASP: Steel folding clasp stamped Gay Frères
WITH: Undated original Certificate of Guarantee and presentation box

These lots have been imported from outside of the UAE for sale. Should the lots be released into GCC/UAE free circulation, duty will be payable at 5% on the low estimate. Duty paid in Dubai is treated as final duty payment as per GCC''s customs laws. VAT at 5% will be applied to the hammer and buyer’s premium.

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie's Dubai Ltd.

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

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.