Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Ref. 25860 ST - Gary Kasparov with Papers

Straight Facts

It’s not unfair to say that Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is one of the most iconic watches ever made. Designed in 1972 by Gerald Genta, the Royal Oak completely changed the way that we look at a steel sports watch. For the first time, stainless steel was treated as a precious metal - receiving complex finishing techniques of brushing, polishing, and beveling - all by hand. The idea that its eight hexagonal bezel screws would be finely finished and left exposed for the wearer to see was a revolutionary thought. It’s no surprise that the model became the calling card for the family owned Audemars Piguet - not to mention one of the most sought after watches in the world. While the initial 5402 was time-only, AP quickly began to capitalize on the success of the Royal Oak and begin to integrate other complications and variations into this case.

That is exactly what we have here, The Royal Oak Chronograph. Prior to the Royal Oak’s introduction, AP was a master of high complications making beautiful movements in precious metals. It was only a matter of time after the Royal Oak that they would continue to leverage that mastery into the new case shape and that marriage resulted in some iconic watches like the present 25860 ST. Housed in a 39mm Royal Oak Case, the dial exhibits the same tappiserie design we love on the normal Royal Oak, but with three silver rings outlining the chronograph sub-registers. The monochromatic blue helps to make the dial look clean and very traditional, despite the case fitting two chronograph pushers at 2 and 5 positions. Furthermore, this is the model favored by world renowned chess champion Gary Kasparov. Gary can often been seen in photographs wearing this piece on his wrist - maybe even using the chronograph as a chess timer?

While the Royal Oak range has experimented with tourbillions, perpetual calendars, Day-Date-Moonphase, and others - the Royal Oak Chronograph is perhaps one of the most authentic designs and is an affordable access point to where haute design meets haute horology.

*Some marks or spots on the dial are reflections or dust on the crystal and are due to high intensity strobe lighting used while photographing. They are not actually on the watch or visible in natural lighting.