40th Anniversary Auction Of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watches

Audemars Piguet Grand Complication, Piece Unique

Antiquorum Auctioneers’ May 13 sale of Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces at the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva will include a special collection of Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks in honor of the iconic model’s 40th anniversary.

The Swiss luxury watch brand collaborated with Antiquorum on this sale by having each timepiece in this section sent to the manufacture in Le Brassus to be checked for authenticity. They will be delivered with an Audemars Piguet certificate of origin.

Highlights of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak sale include the following:

Royal Oak Jumbo “A Series,” No. 88. Produced in 1972, this example is a rare and octagonal, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with date and a stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet. The Royal Oak A series is the earliest serial number ever to be offered at auction. Estimate: $16,000 – $20,000.

Royal Oak Jumbo Skeleton. This watch, produced in 1991, is a rare, water-resistant, tonneau shaped, 18K yellow gold self-winding wristwatch with 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet bracelet accompanied by the original warranty, instruction booklet and fitted box, and an Audemars Piguet Certificate of Origin. Estimate: $22,000 – $33,000.

Grand Complication, Piece Unique No. 1/1, 18k White Gold and Diamond (top picture). Produced as a unique piece in 1994, this timepiece is a large minute-repeating, water-resistant, self-winding, 18k white gold and diamond set wristwatch with co-axial round button split-seconds chronograph, register, perpetual calendar with indication of the weeks, moon phases, and an integrated 18k white gold and full diamond – set Audemars Piguet link bracelet. It is accompanied by an Audemars Piguet Certificate of Origin. Estimate: $650,000 – $1.1 million.

Other Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches as part of the sale include:

* “Royal Oak Offshore, Automatic – End of Days,” No. 343/500. Estimate: $27,000 – $38,000.

* Royal Oak Chronograph, Giorgio Armani, No. 001, White Gold. Estimate: $45,000 – $65,000.

* Royal Oak Jumbo retailed by Bulgari, Former Property of President Venezuela Carlos Andres Perez. Estimate: $33,000 – $45,000.

* Royal Oak, Paris Boutique, Limited Edition of 50 pieces. Estimate: $27,000 – $38,000.