Audemars Piguet 26574 (Pre-owned - Good) — USD 173,500 on eBay

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak reference 26574 is a significant perpetual calendar model within the Royal Oak collection, distinguished by its sophisticated complication and the integration of a moon phase display. This reference represents a contemporary interpretation of the perpetual calendar, a complication long associated with Audemars Piguet, presented in the distinctive octagonal case design. It offers a comprehensive display of time, day, date, month, leap year, and astronomical moon phase, making it a highly functional and mechanically complex timepiece. This particular reference typically features a case crafted from precious metals, often rose gold or white gold, with a diameter of 41 mm. The movement is the self-winding Caliber 5134, visible through a sapphire crystal case back, which provides a power reserve of approximately 40 hours. The watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal on the dial side, ensuring clarity and scratch resistance, and offers a water resistance suitable for daily wear. For collectors, the 26574 is appealing due to its combination of a grand complication with the iconic Royal Oak aesthetic. It caters to those who appreciate high horology and the technical mastery involved in a perpetual calendar movement, while also valuing the design language of the Royal Oak. Variants exist primarily in case material and dial color, offering options for different collector preferences.