Audemars Piguet
John Shaeffer, Reference 25798OR | A very rare and limited edition pink gold minute repeating wristwatch with jumping hours | Circa 1995
Auction Closed
May 10, 02:36 PM GMT
Estimate
90,000 - 140,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: two apertures for jumping hours and minutes
Calibre: cal. 2865G manual winding, 34 jewels
Movement number: 435'751
Case: 18k pink gold, sapphire display case back secured by 4 screws
Case number: D68105, N°8/25
Closure: 18k pink gold Audemars Piguet pin buckle
Size: 33 mm diameter
Signed: case and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: Audemars Piguet digital Extract from the Archives
Please note the leather strap derived from endangered species is for display purposes only and is not sold with the watch. The watch will be shipped with a Sotheby’s branded calf leather strap.
The Audemars Piguet “John Schaeffer” Reference 25798OR in pink gold is part of one of the most intriguing and underappreciated series of complicated wristwatches produced by Audemars Piguet during the 1990s. Created as a tribute to a unique historical commission, this model belongs to a small and highly exclusive group of minute repeating wristwatches developed in the mid-1990s, at a time when the manufacture was reasserting its mastery of traditional complications following the quartz crisis.
The origin of the “John Schaeffer” name dates back to the early 20th century, when Audemars Piguet produced a highly unusual minute repeating wristwatch for the American industrialist John Wallace Schaeffer. Interestingly, historical records and later reinterpretations reveal variations in the spelling of the name—sometimes rendered as “Schaeffer” and at other times “Shaeffer”—a discrepancy that has persisted over time and is reflected in different examples and references associated with the series. This subtle inconsistency has become part of the history surrounding these watches, further emphasising their unique and somewhat enigmatic character.
The original commission was distinguished by its unconventional display, using the letters of the owner’s name in place of traditional hour markers, and left a lasting impression within the brand’s heritage. Decades later, Audemars Piguet revisited this remarkable piece by creating a dedicated line of minute repeaters inspired by it, combining historical narrative with contemporary technical innovation.
The Reference 25798OR stands out within this series for its distinctive display, featuring jumping hours and a non-traditional indication, offering a modern reinterpretation of timekeeping while preserving the poetic complexity of a chiming mechanism.
Produced in extremely limited numbers as part of a broader but still highly restricted production of “John Schaeffer” repeaters, these watches remain exceptionally rare on the market.
Today, the Reference 25798OR is appreciated not only for its rarity, but also for its unique blend of historical inspiration, technical sophistication, and unconventional design. It represents a compelling opportunity for collectors to acquire a piece that encapsulates both the legacy of early 20th-century innovation and the creative resurgence of complicated watchmaking in the 1990s.