Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Quantième Perpetuel 25544BA

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 25554BA — The Beginning of an Era

This is not just a Royal Oak — it's the origin point for one of Audemars Piguet’s most important and enduring complications.

The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 25554BA, introduced in the early 1980s, was the very first Royal Oak to feature a perpetual calendar. Designed by Jacqueline Dimier and powered by the ultra-thin caliber 2120/2800, the 25554 was produced in extremely limited numbers — and over its short run, only a few dozen were made in yellow gold.

This example, dated 1984 and confirmed by an Extract from the Archives, features a rare smooth, non-tapisserie dial — lending it a cleaner, more understated aesthetic that’s increasingly sought after by serious collectors. At 39mm, it maintains the proportions of the original 5402 "Jumbo," while offering a technical leap in horological complexity.

Everything about this reference speaks to the turning point it represents: the fusion of Gérald Genta’s revolutionary design language with traditional Swiss high watchmaking — a blend that would go on to define AP’s modern identity.

In today's landscape of perpetual calendar Royal Oaks, the 25554 remains the grail: first of its kind, rarely seen, and historically unmatched.

Royal Oak 25554BA: The perpetual that started it all — elegant, early, and exceptionally rare.