Audemars Piguet Solid Gold Octagonal Perpetual Calendar Moonphase

Complicated vintage dress pieces — particularly ones finished in precious metals and packing a lot of horological heat for their size — are often overlooked these days. But those in the know will recognize that the craftsmanship, materials, and complexity amount to worlds beyond their current market value, and will snatch them up in advance of an inevitable stylistic turn in their direction!

And then, there are pieces like the Reference 5557CA that we have here, that take things to an entirely different level...

Constructed out of solid white gold, this piece features a 36mm octagonal case with a yellow gold stepped bezel, a satin grey dial with applied yellow gold indices and gold-tone sub register rings, a matching 'pencil' handset with blued steel subsidiary hands, and last but certainly not least - AP's Calibre 2120/2800 perpetual calendar moonphase movement within.

The stand-out feature of this piece though, is without a doubt the integrated yellow AND white gold 'basketweave' woven bracelet with a signed locking clasp, providing a perfectly suited cherry on top of this incredible package.

This striking two-tone piece perfectly embodies the two main focus areas of Audemars Piguet in the mid 1970s-1980: experimentation with design-forward pieces, and mechanical complexity.

Although surely not for everyone, this piece is wildly cool to behold, mechanically impressive, and from one of the best names in the biz.

If that all sounds good to you, then this piece is going to be tough to top.

*Due to the design of this bracelet, sizing alterations may require custom work. Lead time after measurements are established is 4-6 weeks.*

There are certain watches that define a brand, informing its design ethos and becoming nothing short of iconic in the minds of collectors. For Audemars Piguet, that watch is the Royal Oak, in all its multitudinous incarnations. Yet the manufacture from Le Brassus did not earn its seat in the triumvirate of leading watch brands — the so-called Big Three — on the success of the Royal Oak alone.

In fact, both Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet came from long lines of watchmakers, and made their reputations long before the Royal Oak was conceived. Their reputations rested on their ability to create incredibly elegant timepieces in numerous styles. While some of these timepieces were simple, elegant dress watches, others were one-off or short-series pieces produced at the rate of a handful per year. (Some years, Audemars Piguet only produced a few hundred watches in total.) Calendar watches, chronographs, minute repeaters — all the delights of haute horlogerie were part and parcel of the AP oeuvre long before the Royal Oak made its debut in 1972.

Technical innovations from AP abound and include the first minute-repeating movement, the first skeleton watch and an ultra-thin automatic tourbillon. Newer collections, such as the Code 11.59 from 2019, see the maison continue to develop new and exciting watches and calibers, the likes of which aren’t based upon tired horological tropes from models past. (Though if vintage reissues are your bag, AP does have a special “Remaster” line — currently consisting of just one model — that reimagines some of its classical, complicated pieces from the mid-20th century.)

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.