Audemars Piguet Charleston "Full-Diamond" 18K-White Over 16 Carats of "VVS" Diamonds: 67025BC-ZZ-9075BC-01 Start Price USD 62,995.00 Current Price USD 62,995.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, August 18, 2008 End Time Monday, August 25, 2008 Location Spokane, Washington See more about 'Audemars Piguet Charleston "Full-Diamond" 18K-White' Description Hello All:Up for your consideration is my BNIB and extremely rare 2006 Audemars Piguet “Charleston” in lustrous 18K-White Gold and shimmering VVS Diamonds. The ladies Charleston was one of three very select AP timepieces created to launch their “Year of the Lady” campaign. This particular Charleston, of which only ten were made, represents the pinnacle of their marketing movement by virtue of its “Full Diamond” decoration. This is Audemars Piguet Reference: 67025BC-ZZ-9075BC-01, and she is a glorious sonata…!!Aside the Swiss Jura mountains, Audemars Piguet has created an ultra feminine, and softly-glowing chef-d'oeuvre in solid 18K-White Gold. With its full Diamond-set case, matching Diamond-set bracelet, and an inlaid Pavè-Diamond dial, a compliment to heavenly composition is punctuated with nonpareil flawlessness.This almost shocking amount of “VVS” Diamonds are all cut in Brilliant style, and cradled within this gorgeous timepiece in various four-prong settings. To be more tellurian, there are a total of 436 Diamonds on (and in) this Piguet, with a total Carat weight of 16.14...that's correct, over Sixteen Carats of Diamonds…WOW…!!Upon seeing this dazzling aria-of-light I was temporarily stricken with pellucid blindness. So vibrant is the Charleston’s sparkle, that all in attendance will succumb to her near-divine will. I did, and for a moment time literally stood still…!In the artistic world of appreciable beauty there are inspirited images, divine sculptures, soothing music, and brilliant ideas. These inspirations have the ability to make the strongest feel less so, and to bring strength to the weak. The energy of this artistic flux is ongoing today just as it has throughout our recorded civilized time.At the beginning of the worlds Arts Décoratifs period, that lasted from the early 1920’s to just before 1940, the fields of architecture and fine arts began fusing. This avant-garde blending of disciplines was aesthetically rewarding, palpable in tumescence, and profound in scope. The resultant alteration to our animus caused a stirring with little conservation, and played well with varied dispositions. Thankfully this paradigm adjustment continues to this day.From the 1920’s to the present, the enthusiast of Horology most certainly benefited from the Art Deco period. Manufactures, both then and now, are more than happy to play the années folles violin along the esplanade of Les Invalides.A rhythm of disciplines is seen in Art Deco designs from that glorious era, and some became epic. Today this rhythm is variously created, and often recreated as a nod towards nostalgia. With the Audemars Piguet “Charleston” available here, this confluence of rhythm also has an ironic companion.The “Charleston” dance, named for the South Carolina city was popularized in unison with the beginning of the Art Deco movement. The dance, which originated in West Africa, was not only fun, it was also seen as a mockery of the teetotalers of the prohibition era here in the US. Consequently the kids loved it and were only to happy to shake in rebellion. As an added bonus, adults considered the dance to be vulgar at the time. None the less, the timing of this lively flapper coincided precisely with, and gave a movable dynamic to a new movement sweeping the world.I diverged slightly, only because there is some Horological irony in this saga. While possibly a stretch, there is no denying the conjoining of a major world Diamond producing country, Africa, with a dance that also originated there. Seminally speaking, the fused dance named “The Charleston” has much to do with the jaunty Art Deco period. Likewise, the Manufacture of the Audemars Piguet Charleston timepiece also has much to do with the Art Deco designs of that same period. The fact that the Audemars Piguet “Charleston” is styled in the Art Deco motif, then covered in Diamonds from Africa, only solidifies this accord. We shall move on now…!Measuring in at a svelte 27 mm x 14.25 mm, and being a mere 5.7 mm thick, this Audemars is not only flawless in gem quality, it is also flawless in size. Smooth, soft and slightly polished edgework will glide unmolested even across the rarest of Chinese silk embroidered Kossu weave.Adding to the harmonious ergonomics of the Charleston, is an Audemars Piguet bracelet of unequaled splendor. Unsurprisingly, this splendor is both aesthetic and technical. While the visual aesthetic is easily discernible, the technical beauty arrives a bit more furtively. With a remarkably cunning bracelet manufacture of such stealth design, AP has purposely created a lithe armlet whose mechanics almost defy logic.Sinuous at times, and always flexuous with little resistance, the Charleston bracelet, like the Facettes bracelet, upon ample examination, shows no connection points. You say “good, I wish not to see connected links on such an important opus.” Agreed, the outward design is correct in being surreptitious, but I am not talking about the immediately obvious. I am referring to the back side, where again there is no conspicuous method of mechanical attachment…this is simply amazing.From any angle, the bracelet seems to be free-floating, and it is awesome. To be honest, I don’t want to know how AP’s artisans and sculptures accomplished this spectacular masterstroke. Suffice to say, the illusion is pure magic, and I am under her spell…!!Easier to understand, yet no less magical, is the 18K-White Gold, double-secure, and double-push-button buckle. This intuitive latching system simplifies the prescribed code-of-dress for the Charleston wearer when evening attire becomes formal.As an exercise in time honored adornment of ones jewelry prior to the evenings festivities, a natural law stipulates that the final accessory added to your splendid raiment, be your most treasured jewel. Conversely the first item removed, when the evening comes to a glorious end, is generally that same treasured piece. In both cases, the “Full-Diamond” Charleston is generally that special gem. With proper respect your Audemars finds its way to and from its idle perch within your TL-30 home vault with the dignity due a sacred relic.Inside the sapphire-protected sarcophagus beats the Audemars Piguet Caliber 2508, 7-jewel Mecha-Quartz movement, with a rear-set crown system. This Swiss movement will need no adjustment for time, as AP’s Mecha-Quartz movements are near Atomic clock perfect. Battery life is five years.For timekeeping purposes, two Winchester-Blued hands glide over a rectangular track of Pavè Diamonds. Segments-of-twelve created with eleven Arabic’s and an applied AP logo give an important grace to this classic white dial.A bit of trivia: A rare entelechy await the new owner or returning collector of any Audemars Piguet. Within a specific Audemars collection, for instance, one of their models of repeated design, a unique difference between two seemingly analogous pieces will be perceptible. The differences may be slight, but they are absolutely true. This fact is privately celebrated within Piguet’s walls in the village of La Brassus, and by AP’s small legion of aficionados, as each of their elite timepieces carry with them the knowledge of distinctiveness.This AP is Brand-New. The Diamond-set 18K-White Gold case and matching Diamond-set 18K-White Gold bracelet are flawless…all Golden hallmarks look freshly struck. The sapphire crystal and the never-removed, four-screw and solid 18K-White Gold caseback are just as flawless. All functions operate as they should. Timekeeping after one-day was spot-on.As for Super-Luminova, the meretriciously luminescent green coating should never be seen in a timepiece as elegant as this. It is wonderfully absent here.The Charleston in their various metals, dials and bracelet (strap) types are produced in extremely limited numbers. This number varies from year to year, usually totaling no more than 100 for all versions. In this amazing “Full-Diamond” iteration, only ten pieces have been made.All goodies follow this Audemars Piguet. They include both boxes, operating manual, service center manual, hang tag with matching numbers, correcting stylus and the full manufactures two-year warranty.Gaining entry into the fabled house of Audemars Piguet complicated timepieces has always required a firm investment. The suggested retail for the Facettes, in this “Full-Diamond” iteration, is $167,500. My “Buy-It-Now” price is a horological gift. I challenge those interested in this piece to find another BNIB “Full-Diamond” Charleston in 18K-White Gold for less than mine anywhere on the net, or in the AP boutiques. If you do, please let me know…!The payment terms are as follows; PayPal (Confirmed Only), cashier’s check, money order, wire transfer or personal check (clearing time).Please note: Along with the above forms of accepted payment, I am also happy to accept the three main credit cards; Visa, Master Card and American Express.Insured UPS “Second-Day” shipping will be "Free" to anywhere in the USA. Insured international shipping to most destinations will also be "Free".I respectfully ask that zero-feedback bidders please contact me prior to bidding.I am happy to answer all questions. Please feel free to call: 201-816-2559.Finally: With my new format I will be consistently showcasing more and more elite timepieces from Switzerland, so please take a look at my other auctions while you’re here. Thanks for looking and good bidding all.Peace,Phil Place a Bid!