This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Day Date 25594BAis an unusual combination of the iconic Royal Oak design and a seldom seen complication. Believed to have been produced for only a handful of years, the Day Date Moonphase 25594remains one of the few Royal Oak references to house this practical complication, which undoubtedly proves itself useful on a daily basis.

TheDay Date Moonphase

Shortly after the introduction of the , Audemars Piguet of the design. These were meant to bring the Royal Oak to a wider audience, who at the time favoured more modestly sized wristwatches. In 1983, less than a decade after was turned into reality, Audemars Piguetintroduced a Day Date version of the design, with the . Two years later, they improved the design by integrating a moonphase, with the ref. 25594. This wasone of the firstcomplications to be housed within a mid-size Royal Oak case.

Sized at 36mm, the reference was only produced for a handful of years. This example represents the earliest incarnation of the 25594, displaying a few distinctive features, from the flat Audemars Piguet signature to the stick hands. In many ways, this piece is reminiscent of the original Royal Oak pieces, and all the vintageappeal which they embody. In recent times, the balanced design of the Day Date Moonphase,reminiscentof the pieces from the brand, has captured the attention of collectors.

A balanced dial

The symmetrical dial of the Royal Oak 25594BA is rendered in a gold colour, which wonderfully complements the precious metal of the case and bracelet. With most examples displaying a white dial, this example is all the more unusual with its matching golden dial.It retains the more understated Petite Tapisserie pattern, forming the square and lozenge motif, as seen in earlier executions of the Royal Oak. Newer versions of the Royal Oak have since adopted the manufactures bolder Tapisserie Evolutive dial pattern, less faithful to the original design.

The flat Audemars Piguet font is also reminiscent of the one found on the reference 5402, further imbuing this piece with a certain vintage charm. Two gold counters display the day and date in an intuitive way, at 3 and 9 o'clock. The moonphase stands out at 6 o'clock, with the dark blue colour of the midnight sky matching the blued steel hands found in the day and date subdials. Evidence suggests the dial was manufactured by Stern Crations, the storiedmanufacturer which also produced dials for the and the , among others.

Though the majority of pieces come with lume-filled hands, this particular example of the ref. 25594features unusualstickhands, which is believed to only have appeared on the first generation of pieces.

A Yellow Gold Royal Oak

An all-gold Royal Oak is a bit of aparadox. The Royal Oak was originally conceivedas a luxury steel watch, yet its design and proportions render wonderfully when executed in yellow gold. Usually more susceptible to wear than its stainless steel equivalent, this 25594BA -with the BA standing for yellow gold - is extremelywell-preserved, retainingits original lines, crisp hallmarks and a thick case.

At 36mm in diameter, and only 9mm thick, this Royal Oak case is a beautiful twist of perspectives and size. Thanks to the slim profile of the case and bracelet, the ref.25594BA hugs the wrist, in a way that is both supremely comfortable, yet distinctively elegant and characterful.Collectors have noticed that on account of the unique case shape of the Royal Oak, the mid-size versions wear much larger on the wrist than their dimensions would suggest.

This 25594BA comes with its original yellow bracelet and AP signed clasp cover. The blade-style clasp, which is found on all Royal Oak watches produced between 1972 and the mid-80s, is made out of white gold, as is confirmed by the hallmarks on the back. Having recentlybeen serviced by Audemars Piguet, this example features a service crown, with the "AP" signature, ensuring the movement's waterproofness. It is also accompanied by its original, unsigned crown, which the previous owner requested to keep during the service.

The Movement

This Royal Oak Day Date 25594BA is powered by the self-winding calibre 2224/2825, based on a Jaeger LeCoultre bauche. This automatic calibre features 32 working jewels and beats at a frequency of 28,800 VpH, while delivering 40 hours of power reserve. It features an oscillating weight mounted on an unlubricated ceramic ball bearing, with one segment of the weight made out of 21-carat gold.

The Set

This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 25594BA comes with an Extract from the Archives (to follow)and service paperwork from Audemars Piguetfromlate 2020. It is also accompanied by its original unsigned crown, which the previous owner asked to keep following the service by Audemars Piguet.

Closer look