68 - Audemars Piguet - Bamboo

Audemars Piguet - Bamboo An extremely rare, stunning vintage Geneva wristwatch Movm. No. 255073, Ref. 56205BA, Cal. 2502 Quartz, Case No. B99292, Dimensions 27 x 32 mm, circa 1983, Weight 92 g, Origin Schweiz, Original box Case: 18 K gold, screwed on back, integrated 18 K gold "Bamboo" bracelet, total length 200 mm. Dial: Champagne-coloured, horizontally ribbed finish with small, applied dot hour markers around the edge. Movm.: Quartz. Audemars Piguet’s “Bamboo” is one of the brand’s extremely rare and long-overlooked creations, which is kind of surprising considering the watch was created by the house that gave the world the Royal Oak, one of the most influential design icons of modern watchmaking. Yet the Bamboo evenreveals a certain kinship with its more famous sibling: it, too, pairs a striking case with a fully integrated bracelet and features an octagonal bezel, a form element strongly associated with Audemars Piguet. Created in the 1980s, the Bamboo embodies an explicitly design-driven facet of the brand. At its centre is the extraordinary bracelet that gives the model its name. Its sculpted links echo the natural structure of a bamboo stalk, creating a distinctive, rhythmic flow. Reference 56205 was produced primarily in 18-carat yellow gold, though versions in white gold and two-tone configurations are also known. The present Ref. 56205BA is made entirely in 18-carat yellow gold and features an approximately 27 mm case. The understated dial - with its horizontally ribbed surface and delicate dot hour markers - presents an elegant counterbalance to the bold design of the case and the bracelet. A quartz movement enables the watch’s particularly slim profile and reinforces the refined character of this unusual piece. This example is preserved in excellent condition. Case, crystal, and dial embody a beautiful yet simple elegance, allowing the watch’s distinctive design language to shine. For many years, the Bamboo existed on the fringes of the historical Audemars Piguet catalogue, outside the brand’s well-known model families. Today, that former outsider status is a key part of its appeal. With its unmistakable design, intricately crafted gold bracelet, and comparatively rare appearance on the market, it is increasingly being rediscovered by a new generation of collectors. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended. Please note that leather straps made from endangered or protected species - such as alligator, crocodile, or lizard - are used in our catalogue or on our website for illustration purposes only. For customs-related reasons, such straps cannot be shipped outside the EU.