Rare Audemars Piguet Watch Sold for P2.6 Million at Salcedo Auctions

An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini went under the hammer for ₱2,569,600 (including a 16.8 percent buyer's premium) at Salcedo Auctions' Finer Pursuits: Important Philippine Art & Rare Collectibles held last Saturday, June 6, at NEX Tower, Makati.

This particular piece is accompanied by its original box, travel case, Certificate d 'Origine et de Garantie, Mode d' Emploi, and a case mechanism opener. It features a gilded T21 Tapisserie dial in 20 mm, 18-carat yellow gold, bracelet 1100, and Calibre 2601 quartz movement. The Salcedo Auctions catalogue originally estimated the timepiece at P980,000 to P1,200,000, meaning its final sale price was more than double the high estimate.

The Royal Oak Mini, a lady's watch, was designed by Emmanuel Gueit and launched in 1997. Its 20mm diameter makes it the smallest Royal Oak ever made, while still inspired by the original Royal Oak designed by Gérald Genta in 1972. The Royal Oak Mini was presented in the same year as the Royal Oak Grande Complication, which has a 44 mm diameter, making it the largest ever created. The push of these smallest and largest iterations was part of AP's 25th anniversary.

In 2024, Audemars Piguet launched the 23mm Royal Oak Mini, which is inspired by their smallest 20mm. That line is available in three models: 18-carat yellow, white, and pink gold.

Finer Pursuits: Important Philippine Art & Rare Collectibles also sold National Artist H.R. Ocampo's "Arabesque" (1949) for P9,928,000, and "53-A (Madonna and Child)" (1953) for P7,592,000; Fernando Zobel's "Gestos XXVI-ANZAC" (1979) for P11,680,000; a 'Photos of the Philippines' album for P3,036,800; and mid-Spanish colonial period altarpiece angels for P1,284,800. All prices include a 16.8 percent Buyer's Premium.

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