Formula One returned to the USA in style in 2000, at no less than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The US Grand Prix was run on its famous oval, combined with a new “road section” built at the track’s infield, but in a clockwise direction.
To commemorate the return of F1 to the USA, Audemars Piguet and the owners of the speedway designed and built three watches, to be given to the race winner. Three prototypes were made featuring the Indy logo on the dial.
As the F1 circus arrived in the USA, the rivalry between Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen was in full fury. Schumacher took the win at Indy, and eventually, the championship. Alas, he was under contract with Omega as brand ambassador and was unable to accept the Audemars.
If you have about P1.2 million to spare, the watch (one of only three made) will be auctioned at antiquorum.com. Initial estimate is USD25,000 to 35,000. That doesn’t sound unreasonable, given that regular production Royal Oaks can easily retain for that much. We wonder if the Chinned One himself will be (secretly) bidding for this one.
Here’s the full description:
Audemars Piguet – US Grand Prix – Royal Oak Prototype
Audemars Piguet, Genève, “Royal Oak,” Automatic, No. 287, case No. E 19496.
Made as one of only three pieces in 2000 to Award to the winner of the 2000 Formula 1 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Races. Very fine and extremely rare, tonneau-shaped, large, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, date and an 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet bracelet with concealed deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original fitted box and Certificate of Authenticity in the shape of a 35 x 21 cm glass plague.
Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, octagonal bezel with 8 hexagonal white gold screws securing 8 case back screws, screwed-down hexagonal winding-crown and chronograph buttons, sapphire crystal.
Matte silver with clous-de-Paris decoration, multi color emblem imprint of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway logo, applied luminous yellow gold square markers, outer minute/seconds divisions, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, aperture for the date between 4 & 5. Luminous yellow gold baton hands. M. Cal. 2385, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 37 jewels, straightline lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, 21K gold rotor segment. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 41 mm. Thickness 11 mm. Approximate overall length 190 mm.
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