AUDEMARS PIGUET MOONPHASE

Maker: Audemars Piguet
Model: Automatic Moonphase
Reference: BA 5576 / 002
Year: July 1985
Case: 18k yellow gold
Case Diameter: Approx. 33mm
Dial: White dial with black Roman numerals
Functions: Hours, minutes and moonphase
Movement: Automatic
Crystal: Sapphire crystal
Caseback: Solid 18k yellow gold
Strap: Black leather strap
Set: Original Audemars Piguet box, Certificate of Origin and documentation
Condition: Very good vintage condition

The 1980s were one of the most creative periods in the modern history of Audemars Piguet.

While the Royal Oak had already rewritten the rules of luxury watchmaking, AP was simultaneously pursuing another obsession: making traditional complications remarkably thin.

This was the era of the manufacture's celebrated ultra-thin automatic movements, moonphases and perpetual calendars. Audemars Piguet had already developed the legendary Calibre 2120 family and, in 1978, introduced its extraordinarily thin automatic perpetual-calendar movement. During the following decade, that expertise spread through an increasingly diverse collection of complicated watches. AP Chronicles

This Audemars Piguet Ref. BA 5576 / 002, dating from July 1985, belongs directly to that fascinating period.

Rather than the angular architecture of a Royal Oak, it takes the opposite approach. A compact 33mm yellow-gold case, white dial and black Roman numerals create an almost traditional dress watch. Then, at six o'clock, the moonphase changes everything.

The small blue night sky, golden moon and stars introduce just enough eccentricity to what would otherwise be an extremely restrained watch.

It is also a reminder that 1980s Audemars Piguet was far more than the Royal Oak. The manufacture was producing exceptionally refined complicated watches in remarkably discreet cases, often using ultra-thin automatic architecture developed with LeCoultre. AP's archives document this intense development of thin automatic movements and moonphase modules throughout precisely this period. AP Chronicles

Today, these smaller complicated APs offer a particularly interesting window into the manufacture before large watches became the norm.

And this example has something increasingly difficult to find: its original 1985 provenance.

It is accompanied by its period Audemars Piguet presentation box, Certificate of Origin and original documentation, recording reference BA 5576 / 002.

A wonderfully complete survivor from a period when Audemars Piguet was quietly making some of the most interesting complicated watches in Switzerland.

The Italian Summer
Cream pleated trousers, a pale-blue linen shirt with the sleeves rolled, dark brown suede loafers and tortoiseshell sunglasses. The yellow gold does the rest.

The New York Dinner
Black wide-leg trousers, a fine black merino polo and black leather loafers. The little gold AP becomes the only jewellery you need.

The Weekend Collector
Faded straight-leg denim, a heavyweight white T-shirt, navy cashmere cardigan and brown suede loafers. Slightly unexpected, which is exactly why a 33mm moonphase works so well.

This Audemars Piguet Moonphase Ref. BA 5576 / 002 is presented in very good vintage condition.

The yellow-gold case retains attractive proportions and shows normal signs of careful wear. The white dial remains particularly clean, with crisp Roman numerals and a beautifully preserved moonphase display.

The watch is currently fitted to a black leather strap.

Most importantly, it is accompanied by its original Audemars Piguet box, Certificate of Origin and period documentation from 1985, making this an unusually complete example of an elegant and lesser-seen chapter of Audemars Piguet history.