Important Watches
Important Watches
Royal Oak Quantième Annuel, Reference 25920ST A stainless steel annual calendar wristwatch with bracelet Circa 2003 | 愛彼 | Royal Oak Quantième Annuel 型號 25920ST 精鋼年曆鍊帶腕錶,製作年份約 2003
Auction Closed
November 9, 01:29 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 30,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Quantième Annuel, Reference 25920ST
A stainless steel annual calendar wristwatch with bracelet
Circa 2003
愛彼
Royal Oak Quantième Annuel 型號 25920ST 精鋼年曆鍊帶腕錶,製作年份約 2003
Dial: blue tapisserie
Caliber: cal. 2224 automatic, 35 jewels
Movement number: 491'179
Case: stainless steel , back secured by 8 screws
Case number: E3'530, 659
Closure: stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet and folding clasp
Size: 36.5 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 180 mm (witout additional links)
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: no
Accessories: Audemars Piguet instruction manual, two additional links, presentaiton case with outer packaging, congratulatory letter from Ernesto Bertarelli to Alinghi team, 31st America's Cup medal, 32nd America's Cup medal, 2003 Luis Vuitton winner trophy, Alinghi 10 and Alinghi books
The present lot, the Audemars Piguet annual calendar reference 25920, has quite the story. The watch itself represents the only annual calendar watch the manufacture has ever produced and it only enjoyed a very brief production, being introduced in 1999 and ending in the early 2000s. This example from 2003 was gifted to the present owner, a sail maker, for renowned sailing team Alinghi, for his participation and the team’s subsequent victory in the 31st Americas Cup.
Team Alinghi, founded in 2000, was created solely to compete in the 2003 America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport. In order to challenge the America’s Cup however they first had to win the Louis Vuitton Cup where they would be tested against very well established teams such as Prada, One World and Oracle. Despite this tough competition they proved victorious and immediately began to prepare to Face Team New Zealand, the defenders of the America’s Cup. In march 2003, Team Alinghi, seen in many ways as the underdogs of the competition, took the series 5-0 from the reigning champions winning the cup and at the same time crowning themselves as the first European team to win the trophy, and the first team in history to win on their debut attempt.
This watch chronicles this spectacular journey. Fresh to the market and consigned by the original owner, the watch is accompanied by various important paraphernalia including a Louis Vuitton winners trophy, winner medals from the 31st and 32nd America’s cup, books that document the team’s story and a signed memorandum from Ernesto Betarelli thanking and congratulating the team for its successes.
The present lot is a time capsule. On this, the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak, it represents an incredibly rare opportunity not only to acquire an iconic and important timepiece, but an object steeped in sporting history and adventure.