Audemars Piguet Huitième: Beyond Royal Oak

Fernando's post offers a refreshing perspective on Audemars Piguet, moving beyond the ubiquitous Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore models. He shares his unexpected discovery and acquisition of an AP Huitième, highlighting its unique design and exceptional wearability. This article delves into why this often-overlooked reference resonates with collectors seeking something distinctive from the brand.

I caught a glimpse of this watch outside a shop window on my way to lunch with a Purist the other day.

Hadn’t seen anything like it before and had no idea what model or year it was from but somehow I was immensely attracted to it. Egg shell dial with applied indices, AP logo, date and some writing, all at 3 o’clock. Pretty unusual I thought. Had it on the wrist and it felt perfect, just the right size (40mm) with a slim profile; I couldn’t ask for a better fit. I also liked the brush sides with the short and curved lugs, which I like, as there’s no overhang.

The stepped convex bezel is an interesting feature and this may not appeal to some: with the AP wording at the top. In time, I suspect the black paint will come off and it will be less conspicuous. It’s more prominent in pictures, whereas it’s not so noticeable once on the wrist. The blue hands contrast with the dial nicely providing excellent legibility.

It didn’t take long for me to pull the trigger …… and it’s so affordable!

Initially, I did a search but couldn’t find any information about this watch, which had me slightly worried. Luckily, Dr. TM came through and provided me with some details:

Huitieme auto circa 1990, cal. 2125 (based on JLC 889 I think), with under crystal eye over date. A classic design with quirky details (the part I like).

I managed to replace the original croc. strap and tang buckle with an old AP blue strap with deployant that I had lying around the house.

Enough talk, here are some pics.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers

fernando