Audemars Piguet Cobra 5403BC

Cobra, Reference 5403BC | A white gold and diamond-set bracelet watch with date and falcon eye dial | Circa 1978 Audemars Piguet

Dial: blue falcon eye, diamond Calibre: cal. 2121 automatic, 36 jewels Movement number: 173’254 Case: 18k white gold, screw-down case back Case number: B11'911 Closure: 18k white gold Audemars Piguet bracelet and locking clasp Size: 34 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 190 mm Signed: case, dial and movement Box: no Papers: no Accessories: none A year before the iconic Royal Oak (Ref. 5402) carved its name into the walls of watch collecting history, Audemars Piguet had released the Cobra. Having also been drawn up in the sketchbooks of the so-called Picasso of watch design Gerald Genta, it's safe to say it lived in the shadow somewhat of its blue eyed younger brother the Royal Oak, for a time. Like two sides to a coin, they follow similar traits of a luxurious time and date automatic, with an integrated bracelet, even sharing the same Caliber 2121. In recent years the Cobra has become a grail on the bleeding edge of watch collecting. The present watch sets itself apart from the standard issue Cobra (if there is such a thing) through its unusual and incredibly rare hardstone Hawk Eye dial with diamond set hour markers, produced in the low double digits, the watch creates a very understated equivalent to the more commonly seen combination of yellow gold and Tiger’s Eye. The present watch comes to us from an established collector and presents a fantastic opportunity to add an extraordinarily rare and iconic piece to any serious collection.