Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time, ref. BA25685, 1997 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Watches of Knightsbridge · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time, ref. BA25685, 1997

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

Maker / attribution: Audemars Piguet (maker)
Date: 1997
Historical period: Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Materials / technique: 18k Yellow Gold
Dimensions: Diameter 36 mm
Dealer: Watches of Knightsbridge (dealer), London
Stock no.: CUR554
Credit line: Dealer listing, Watches of Knightsbridge (CUR554)
Catalogue title (original): 1997 Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time BA25685 (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Watches of Knightsbridge (dealer), London (stock number CUR554), this is a wristwatch by Audemars Piguet, made in Switzerland, dated 1997. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: 18k Yellow Gold. Recorded dimensions: Diameter 36 mm. 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 — Watches of Knightsbridge

A sophisticated expression of Audemars Piguet’s classical watchmaking, this 1997 Jules Audemars Dual Time Ref. BA25685 seamlessly combines elegant design with practical complication. Crafted in 18k yellow gold, the 36mm case is beautifully proportioned, housing a crisp white dial with black Roman numerals, blued feuille hands, a dual time display, date aperture, and power reserve indicator. Powered by the ultra-thin automatic Calibre 2129, the watch offers exceptional mechanical refinement while maintaining a slim, elegant profile. Produced during a period when Audemars Piguet was creating some of its most understated and technically accomplished dress watches, the Ref. BA25685 has become increasingly appreciated by collectors for its timeless aesthetics, everyday wearability, and relative rarity. Balancing discreet luxury with genuine horological pedigree, it is an exceptional example of neo-vintage Audemars Piguet at its finest.

Specifications — Watches of Knightsbridge

Reference: BA25685; Metal: 18k Yellow Gold; Movement: Manual Wind Cal. 2129; Case diameter: 36mm; Bracelet/strap: Blue Leather Strap W/ Generic Pin Buckle

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

Self-winding (automatic) mechanism — Component
GMT / dual time — Complication
Power reserve indicator — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsRecorded
DimensionsRecorded
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: Watches of Knightsbridge (dealer), London (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Watches of Knightsbridge — 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 Jules Audemars Dual Time, ref. BA25685, 1997." Watches of Knightsbridge (dealer), London, CUR554. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/audemars-piguet-jules-audemars-dual-time-ref-ba25685-1997-49b0d9.