Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Oct 27, 2019

LOT 244

AUDEMARS PIGUET REF. 25858 BC, MINUTE-REPEATER, ONE-MINUTE TOURBILLON REGULATOR; “RÉPÉTITION MINUTES TOURBILLON, JULES AUDEMARS”; 18K WHITE GOLD

HKD 450,000 - 600,000

CHF 56,250 - 75,000 / USD 57,350 - 76,450

Sold: HKD 562,500

One on the only few made 18K white gold, manual-winding, round-shaped, gentleman’s wristwatch, with water-resistant sapphire-crystal case-back screwed by four screws, mother-of-pearl dial with spherical globe-like design and large luminescent Arabic numerals, one-minute tourbillon regulator and minute-repeater on two gongs.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Brand Audemars Piguet

Model “Répétition Minutes Tourbillon, Jules Audemars”

Reference 25858 BC OO D019CR 01

Year Circa 2001-2004

Movement No.  598 831

Calibre  2872, “tonneau”-shaped, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions

Case No.  F 10 232

Bracelet Blue leather AP strap, 18K white gold AP deployant clasp

Diameter 40 mm

Signature Dial, Case and Movement

Notes

Audemars Piguet, “Répétition Minutes Tourbillon” with Cal. 2872 The Ref. 25858, with the Cal. 2872 (minute-repeater with one-minute tourbillon regulator), fitted in a round shaped-case (Ø 39 mm.), was produced between 1996 and 2001 at only 14 examples and sold between 1997 and 2002, with different materials cases: • 5 examples in 18K pink gold; • 4 examples 18K white gold; • 5 examples in platinum. The Ref. 25937, with the same calibre and horological functions, fitted in a round shaped-case (Ø 39 mm.), was produced in 1998 at only 5 examples and sold between 1999 and 2000, in a fully diamond-set 18K white gold case with diamond-set dial and diamond-set bracelet. The Ref. 25982, with the same calibre and horological functions, fitted in a “Jules Audemars” shaped-case (Ø 40 mm.), was produced in 2001 as a unique piece and sold the same year, in a diamond-set 18K white gold case. Audemars Piguet Cal. 2872 The Cal. 2890 was produced until 1996 and 2001 in 20 examples only and was fitted in different reference case numbers (see above). … and after 2000 ? It appears nowadays that Audemars Piguet has still produced a few references 25858, “Répétition Minutes Tourbillon”, with Cal. 2872, at the binging of the 2000’s. After 2001-2002, the exact information is missing as it is not published in the latest edition of the Manufacture book dedicated to complicated wristwatches (see bibliography). The present Ref. 25858 was probably produced after 2001 and was sold in 2004. Its mother-of-pearl dial with spherical globe-like design and large luminescent Arabic numerals is incredibly modern and makes it absolutely irresistible! Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly how much of this model was produced, but we can easily imagine that only a few pieces were taken from the workshops of the Vallée de Joux factory. Bibliography • Chaille, François, Audemars Piguet, Le maître de l’horlogerie depuis 1875 – Master Watchmaker since 1875, Paris, Edition Flammarion, 2011, chapter “Tourbillon”, pp. 130-135. • Vivas, Sebastian, & Friedman, Michael L., Audemars Piguet 20th century, Complicated Wristwatches, Le Brassus (Vallée de Joux), Editions Audemars Piguet, 2018, chapter V, “Rebirth beyond the quartz crisis”, part 3 “Tourbillon since 1986”, pp. 244-255, and part 4, “Repeaters since 1992”, pp. 262-263, and “Appendices”, pp. 292-293, 299 and 303.