Importantes Montres de Collection

Geneva, Nov 13, 2011

LOT 281

AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK JUMBO "A SERIES", 18K YELLOW GOLD Audemars Piguet, ?Royal Oak Jumbo, Automatic?, No. 330. Delivered to South America in November 1978. Fine and very rare, octagonal, self-winding, water-resistant, 18k yellow gold wristwatch with date and an 18k yellow gold Audemars Piguet bracelet with deployant clasp.

CHF 18,000 - 28,000

USD 20,000 - 30,000 / EUR 15,000 - 23,000

Sold: CHF 37,500

C. Two-body, polished and brushed, octagonal bezel set with 8 hexagonal nuts embanked in 8 screws on the case back, angled lugs with 4 screws to fi x the strap, sapphire crystal. D. Anthracite, clous de Paris decoration, applied luminous steel baton indexes, applied gold Audemars Piguet logo at 6, outer white minute divisions, aperture for the date. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. 2121, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 36 jewels, straight line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, 21K gold rotor. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 39 x 48 mm. Thickness 7 mm. Approx. overall length 170 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Launched in 1972, the Royal Oak, designed by the late genius Gerald Genta, was an iconic design that would mark the destiny of Audemars Piguet. Inspired by the shape of a porthole, it was at the forefront of design both in terms of shape and size. A few years ago, when collectors started being interested in early Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks, they were often confused by some models that had no letters on the case back. This led to the popular belief that there was an earlier series that some enthusiasts charecterised as the Pre-A series. Further research concluded that in fact while the stainless steel versions always had an A serial preceding the watch number, the two-tones and 18k yellow gold versions in fact did not but were actually also A series. A clear indication of this early batch can be seen on this model - namely the dial with the AP logo at 6 but also by the crown (that has no AP logo), the AP logo on the clasp (later models bore the words Audemars Piguet) and on the deployant clasp the words "Swiss Made". Audemars Piguet confi rmed the sale of this piece in 1978 to the South American market. This is the fi rst time that an A series Royal Oak in 18k yellow gold has appeared at auction.