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: Switzerland, Original box Case: 18K gold, screw-down back, integrated 18K gold “Bamboo” bracelet, total length 200 mm. Dial: Champagne-colored, horizontally ribbed finish with small, applied dot hour markers around the edge. Movement: Quartz. Audemars Piguet’s “Bamboo” is one of the brand’s extremely rare and long-overlooked creations, which is somewhat 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 even reveals 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 design element strongly associated with Audemars Piguet. Created in the 1980s, the Bamboo embodies an explicitly design-driven facet of the brand. At its heart 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 primarily produced in 18-karat yellow gold, though versions in white gold and two-tone configurations are also known. The present Ref. 56205BA is made entirely of 18-karat yellow gold and features a case measuring approximately 27 mm. The understated dial—with its horizontally ribbed surface and delicate dot hour markers—provides an elegant counterbalance to the bold design of the case and bracelet. A quartz movement enables the watch’s exceptionally slim profile and reinforces the refined character of this unusual piece. This example is in excellent condition. The 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 catalog, 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. Movement: very good, in working condition, cleaning recommended. Please note that leather straps made from endangered or protected species—such as alligator, crocodile, or lizard—are used in our catalog or on our website for illustrative purposes only. For customs-related reasons, such straps cannot be shipped outside the EU.