Audemars Piguet Tank Dress Watch

Audemars Piguet may be most famed for its Royal Oak line of sports watches, but that’s not all the celebrated watchmaker from La Brassus is good for. 

In fact, this slim and elegant piece couldn't be any further removed from the bulky brute of the Royal Oak Offshore line that the firm is perhaps most commonly associated with amongst today's collectors. Sleek and refined, it has more in common with vintage Cartier than with modern AP — and for the dedicated collector, that's an incredibly compelling idea.

Measuring 23 x 36 mm in white gold, this rectangular piece is outfitted with smooth brancards, an unsigned crown, and an acrylic crystal, beneath which sits a minimalist black dial fitted with an applied "AP" logo, the "Audemars Piguet" wordmark in white transfer, and a slim white gold 'pencil' handset. Powered by a hand-wound movement, it comes paired to an 18mm grey sea snake strap with a hallmarked, white gold pin buckle. 

Whether you strap it on only for special occasions or make this beautiful object your daily driver, there's no way not to be smitten by its distinctive '70s charms. Indeed, they don't make 'em like this anymore! 

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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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 two-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.