Audemars Piguet Blue Dual Time Royal Oak, ref. 25730ST, 2004 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Grey & Patina · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Grey & Patina · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Audemars Piguet Blue Dual Time Royal Oak, ref. 25730ST, 2004

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Audemars Piguet (maker)
Date: 2004
Historical period: Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Materials / technique: Stainless Steel
Dealer: Grey & Patina (dealer), Los Angeles
Stock no.: Product 36746
Credit line: Dealer listing, Grey & Patina (product 36746)
Catalogue title (original): 2004 Audemars Piguet 25730ST Blue Dual Time Royal Oak (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Grey & Patina (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number Product 36746), this is a wristwatch by Audemars Piguet, made in Switzerland, dated 2004. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: Stainless Steel. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Grey & Patina

The 25730ST was Audemar’s first stab at a dual-time or GMT Royal Oak style watch. Its asymmetric dial placement with a 48 hour power reserve did not immediately translate to potential buyers at the time of its launch. However, often with unpopular watches at launch, these have gathered a good following over the years. Much like the Patek 5712, its seemingly random subdial placements seem cluttered initially but collectors have really flocked to this look. The case size sits at 36mm and at 8mm thick, similar to the dimensions of the 25572 and 25594 owl type watches. Dial: Oslo Blue GMT Dial Insert: Steel Case: Excellent condition case that has previously been lightly polished. 36mm Bracelet: Integrated Bracelet

Historical context

Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)

Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.

Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Quartz Revolution

Atlas type guide

Military, pilot and travel watches

The wristwatch owes much of its adoption by men to warfare and aviation. Wristlets — small pocket watches soldered with lugs and worn on a strap — were used in colonial campaigns and became standard equipment in the First World War, with protective grilles over the crystal ('shrapnel guards'). Louis Cartier's Santos (1904), designed for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, is often cited as an early purpose-made pilot's watch.

In the Second World War governments specified watches in detail: the German B-Uhr observation watches, the American A-11, and the British 'W.W.W.' (the 'Dirty Dozen' set of 1945). After the war, jet travel brought GMT and world-time watches, which show two or more time zones at once — Louis Cottier's world-time mechanism and the Rolex GMT-Master (1955) are examples.

What to look for

Military markings on the case back: broad arrow, issue numbers, 'W.W.W.', 'A.T.P.'
High-legibility black dials with luminous Arabic numerals; oversized crowns for gloved hands.
24-hour hands and rotating 24-hour bezels or city rings on GMT/world-time watches.
Wire lugs on early wristlets converted from pocket watches.

Dating clues

Wire-lug wristlets: c. 1900–1925.
Military specifications of the Second World War: 1939–1945.
GMT and world-time wristwatches: mainly after 1950.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Mechanisms mentioned

GMT / dual time — Complication
Power reserve indicator — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsRecorded
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Grey & Patina (dealer), Los Angeles (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Grey & Patina — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Audemars Piguet Blue Dual Time Royal Oak, ref. 25730ST, 2004." Grey & Patina (dealer), Los Angeles, Product 36746. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/audemars-piguet-blue-dual-time-royal-oak-ref-25730st-2004-0ceb1d.