Audemars Piguet Tank Museum Regulator Ref. 25849BA

The Part Worth Knowing:

Some of the most interesting watches from Audemars Piguet are the ones that sit outside the familiar Royal Oak narrative. This Museum Regulator, produced in the 1990s, is a great example. Housed in a slim, rectangular 18k yellow gold case, it draws from the traditional regulator clocks used by watchmakers for precision timekeeping, while presenting the idea in a distinctly AP way.

The dial is a major part of what makes this example so special. Finished in beautiful white enamel, it has a crisp, glossy quality that provides the perfect backdrop for the unconventional regulator layout. What makes the regulator layout so compelling is that the hours, minutes, and seconds each have their own indication. The central minute hand takes priority, with the hours displayed in the subdial at 12 o’clock and subsidiary seconds at 6. It is an unconventional way to read the time, but one that becomes surprisingly intuitive once you spend time with it. The white dial, applied gold markers, and and painted Breguet numerals at the quarters give the watch a unique architectural quality.

Condition Report:

Case: 18k yellow gold rectangular case with bevel-faceted Art Deco-inspired detailing. Unpolished with beautiful case patina. Wear and marks throughout consistent with age

Dial: Flawless and Crack free white enamel dial

Movement: Audemars Piguet calibre 2085/2186 manual-winding regulator movement.

Bracelet/Strap: Blue suede strap fitted to its original 18k yellow gold buckle

Kit: Booklet and original Japanese signed papers dating to 1998