Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

New York, Sep 15, 2010

LOT 119

Audemars Piguet - Royal Oak - Tourbillon - 25th anniversary Audemars Piguet, Genève, "Royal Oak, Tourbillon, Power Reserve, Back-winder,? No. 386165, case No. D92176, Ref. 25831 ST. Made in a limited edition of 25 examples to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak. Very fine and important, large, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with date, visible one minute tourbillon regulator, power reserve indicator and an integral stainless steel Audemars Piguet link bracelet with concealed deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original fitted box and, certificate and instruction manual.

USD 70,000 - 90,000

EUR 53,000 - 68,000 / CHF 73,000 - 95,000

Sold: USD 110,500

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, case back with 8 screws, octagonal bezel with 8 hexagonal white gold screws, fold-out winding-crown on the back, sapphire crystal. D. Copper color checkerboard pattern with applied yellow gold luminous indexes on an off-center minute and hour dial, subsidiary dials for the date at 3 and the power reserve at 9, aperture for the tourbillon regulator under a polished steel bridge at 6. Luminous yellow gold baton hands. M. Cal 2875, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 25 jewels, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator, monometallic balance adjusted to heat, cold and 5 positions, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 12 mm. Approx overall length 195 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1*

As new

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

What is a Tourbillon regulator? A Tourbillon is a regulating mechanism in which the escapement of a movement is housed within a revolving carriage. It was developed in an effort to attain better precision. When a watch is in a vertical position, the force of gravity will speed the balance wheel as it moves in its downward (arc) direction and slow it as it moves upward, creating deviational errors of timekeeping. By placing the balance and escapement in a carriage that revolves 360° per minute, these errors become averaged and the timekeeping becomes constant and consequently adjustable. Created by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1795, the tourbillon is considered a difficult and complex achievement by any watch manufacturer.