129 Audemars Piguet Fresh to the Market, Very Rare and Exceptional, Calendar and Moon Phases, Square Shape Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, With Extract From the Archives, Reference 5514BA

Estimate: €150,000 –⁠ 300,000

Model: Calendar Moon Phase
Reference: 5514BA
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 1954
Movement: Manual
Caliber: 9/10RSQ
Case N°: 670
Movement N°: 56661
Dimensions: 24 × 24 mm
Signed: Dial, Case and Movement
Accessories: Extract from the Archives

People often link Audemars Piguet with the Royal Oak and often forget that the brand was making watches long before this nowadays iconic model ever came to life. In fact, AP has a distinguished history of producing exquisite dress watches in precious metals and often with lots of complications. For collectors, full calendar wristwatches produced by Audemars Piguet are certainly worth collecting. This family of timepieces borrow their design aesthetic from a historic tank design wristwatch that the brand made in the 1920s and was equipped with calendar and moon phase complication. This model has an evident Art Deco inspiration for the creation of the rectangular yellow-gold case with this uncommon fancy teardrop lugs that is elegant and sophisticated. The first series of these watches has tear drop lugs and were sold between 1950 and 1959, for around 12 total examples made. The second series were instead sold between 1960 and 1967, with circa 10 examples made. With a production period that goes from 1945 to 1960, scholars say that approximately 22 examples of this reference has been produced and only 7 are known in the market today. Significant dial variation among produced examples make each watch and configuration essentially unique. The dial of the lot here offered is perfectly balanced with attractive applied baton indexes in yellow gold that really stand out against the matte silvered/white background. Moreover lots of features are displayed on the dial: four subsidiary dials for the date, days of the week and the months, graduation for the age of the moon, aperture for the moon phases and completed by yellow-gold baton hands. Marking an important position in the line of watches produced by the firm from Audemars Piguet and considered by many as the worthiest in terms of craftsmanship and aesthetics. Moreover, the watch comes with the extract from the archives confirming the sale of the present example on the 14th of October 1954.