Introduction
Today famed for their octagonal design elements as best seen in the Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, Royal Oak Concept, Code 11.59 and others, Audemars Piguet, like just about every other high-end watchmaker, was once best-known for their round dress watches. Designed with a minimalist aesthetic that epitomized the timepiece’s functional nature, these dress watches were round, thin, and had elegantly legible dials – just as this vintage dress watch has. Hailing from the 1960s, this dress watch is an 18kt yellow gold example that features a white dial with long thin painted indices and simple steel hands that feed into its design language all the more. Featuring a svelte case that allows this watch to be extra-thin, as AP was known for at the time, it is powered by a manual-wind movement like most dress watches from the same era. This example was also originally retailed by the legendary jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels, as evidenced by its caseback engravings.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
V 7.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Watch Only
Est. value range
$3,000 – $5,000
The Details
Brand
Audemars Piguet
Dimensions
31.5mm
Model
Vintage Dress Watch
Movement
Manual-wind cal. 2003
Reference
N/A
Bracelet
Leather strap
Year
Circa 1960s
Condition
Very good
Material
18kt yellow gold
Included
Watch only
Dial Color
White
THE DIAL
Featuring slim painted indices and elegant hands, this example's dial maintains an elegant aesthetic that is embodied throughout the rest of the timepiece.
THE CONSTRUCTION
Boasting an elegant construction that is admittedly svelte by today's standards, this vintage dress watch embraces the aesthetic codes of its time with its thin flat bezel, straight lugs, and clean look.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in very good overall condition. French hallmarked case shows previous signs of polishing, but the eagle head gold hallmark is visible but lightly worn, and there are numbers and a hand engraved VCA along the edge of caseback. Oxidation is evident on the surface, namely on the bezel. The original Audemars Piguet dial has light spotting along the surface, and some areas of discoloration along the edges visible mainly between 5/6 o'clock and between 8/10 o'clock. Hands show some oxidation and pitting on the surface. Watch comes on a Cartier style deployant buckle with associated French hallmarks. Please note that the watch ticks at time of cataloging, but timekeeping is poor and a service is recommended.
Please Note: Due to CITES considerations, if the watch is to be shipped outside of the USA, the exotic skin strap will have to be removed.
Our Perspective
An understated timepiece with fine details that speak to its era's design language, this dress watch is a quintessential piece of 1960s horology.
Eric Ku
Co-founder
