AUDEMARS PIGUET - Lot 7

AUDEMARS PIGUET Royal Oak "Team Alinghi, Winner America's Cup 2003" ref. 25920, n° E-20632 / 278, circa 1999 Steel wristwatch with annual calendar Case: octagonal, screw-down bezel, signed Dial: blue with "Tapestry" pattern in the center, luminescent "baton" markers, date indication by central hand, sub-dial for month indication, signed Movement: automatic, signed Strap: steel, folding clasp, signed Diameter: 37 mm With original case and box, instructions for use. Accompanied by a letter from Ernesto Bertarelli dated December 10, 2003 and a handwritten letter from the original owner, who was a member of the Alinghi sailing team during the 2003 America's Cup. Provenance: This watch comes directly from its original owner, a sailing member of the "Alinghi America's Cup 2003" team. Given by Ernesto Bertarelli in December 2003 for Christmas as a personal thank you for helping the team win the 2003 America's Cup. Particularly rare, reference 25920 is a special watch in the Royal Oak collection since it was produced for barely one year. Launched in 1999 by Audemars Piguet, its production ceased at the very beginning of the year 2000. This very short production period makes it a collector's item with great potential. Equipped with an annual calendar, a modern complication invented in 1996 by Patek Philippe, this model is extremely easy to use since the calendar requires only one adjustment per year. The only annual calendar produced by Audemars Piguet, all collections included, the reference 25920 is a true collector's item. More than a watch, our steel model is a rare testimony of what was certainly the most incredible edition of the America's Cup! This mythical race, founded in 1851, is the oldest trophy in the world. Among the 36 editions, the 2003 edition remains the most sensational as the Swiss team Alinghi, participating in the trophy for the very first time, won, a real feat! It was in 2000 that billionaire and businessman Ernesto Bertarelli, owner of Alinghi, decided to take on the America's Cup challenge. Determined to win, he selected the best international talents. The current owner of this watch was hired as the winch coach and responsible for the winch system in the sailing team. Considered as one of the greatest French skippers, he is one of the few sailors to have won the America's Cup 3 times in a row (2003, 2007, 2010). French Champion in 1997 with skipper Luc Pillot, he became European Champion that same year with Olympic Champion Thierry Peponnet. In 2001, he became World Champion with Russell Coutts, and won the Grand Prix de Royan ORMA with sailor Ellen Mc Arthur. At the age of 7, when he discovered an America's Cup poster in his father's office, he promised himself to win this legendary race one day. From Team Alinghi 2003, he keeps the memory of an unequalled team spirit that transformed this competition into a human adventure. that transformed this competition into an extraordinary human adventure. A group cohesion that led the team to victory, but also supported him when in 2005 after 5 surgeries and 1 year of hospitalization he resumed training. Alinghi did not let him go during this ordeal, some teammates even offered to be donors for the transplant he so badly needed. He won the America's Cup a second time in 2007 with Alinghi, and a third time in 2010 with BMW Oracle (USA). This extraordinary resilience has allowed him to achieve an outstanding record in top-level competition. In a remarkable state of preservation, this watch has only been worn on two occasions by its the day it was given to him by Ernesto Bertarelli, and on his 60th birthday. This model, with its fascinating provenance, is a unique opportunity for any lover of historical pieces to acquire a rare complication and to treat themselves to a piece of the America's Cup legend. We warmly thank Geoffroy ADER for his kind collaboration and the writing of this note. AUDEMARS PIGUET Royal Oak "Team Alinghi, Winner America's Cup 2003" ref. 25920, n° E-20632 / 278 Circa 1999 With original box and outer packaging, instructions for use. Accompanied by a letter from Ernesto Bertarelli dated December 10, 2003 and a handwritten letter from the original owner, a member of the Alinghi team sailing in the 2003 America's Cup. This watch comes directly from its original owner, a sailing member of the "Alinghi America's Cup 2003" team. Given by Ernesto Bertarelli in December 2003 for Christmas as a personal thank you for helping the team win the 2003 America's Cup. Particularly rare, the refere