Audemars Piguet Triple 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! Furthermore, pieces such as this — a yellow gold automatic calendar with moon phase — are a perfect example of Audemars Piguet's design savoir-faire beyond the cherished Royal Oak collection. 

A Reference 25589BA dating to the 1980s, it’s housed in a 33mm yellow gold case with a mineral crystal, an 18k yellow gold crown, and a stepped bezel characteristic of its era. It features a clean, white enamel dial with painted black 'Roman' indices, a matching yellow gold ‘pencil’ handset, a date indicator at 3:00, a day indicator at 9:00, and a whimsical moonphase aperture at 6:00. The high-grade Calibre 2124 automatic movement drives the day, date and moonphase complications, all set via the winding crown at 3:00. The entire effect is a watch that is not only beautiful but also easy to use.

Paired to a black alligator leather strap with a signed, gold-plated pin buckle, this Reference 25589BA has the appearance of a refined gentleman's piece from the 1930s or 40s. It’s a style that’s clearly coming back into vogue — just take a look at current offerings from the likes of Jaeger-LeCoulte and Girard Perregaux — and one you’d be wise to pay attention to.

Try this beauty on for size today!

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 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.