1980s Audemars Piguet Cobra 18ct White Gold Diamond Hands 28mm

Here we have a classic 1980s Audemars Piguet Cobra Diamond Hands with a curvaceous 29mm, rounded rectangular 18ct White Gold case. Softly rounded edges effortlessly flow into the 20mm integrated bracelet. This iconic design was created by a young Gerald Genta in 1969. A lug-to-lug length of 36mm and a case thickness of just 6mm ensure a comfortable fit on your wrist. The crown sits slightly recessed into the case. A flat sapphire crystal sits above an incredible matte dark blue dial; 12 spectacular factory diamonds mark the hours and complement the hour and minute hands, encrusted with 18 factory diamonds, creating a shimmering, mesmerising light show as you rotate your wrist. At noon, we have the Audemars Piguet motif. On the reverse, there is a snap-on 18ct White Gold case back, inside a manually wound AP Cal. 2080, 20 jewel movement. It is paired with its original 20mm multi-linked integrated 18ct white gold bracelet secured by a signed 2-adjustment jewellery clasp, Swiss hallmarked, and will fit up to a 7.1-inch wrist; its scale pattern links resemble a snake's skin, hence the ’Cobra’ nickname.

This watch is sold as ‘Watch Only’ and, therefore, comes without its Audemars Piguet box or paperwork. It is paired with its original 20mm multi-linked integrated 18ct white gold bracelet secured by a signed 2-adjustment jewellery clasp, Swiss hallmarked, and will fit up to a 7.1-inch wrist; its scale pattern links resemble a snake's skin, hence the ’Cobra’ nickname. The watch is from Circa. 1980s and is sold in worn condition with signs of wear; an entire case and bracelet refurb can be provided at an additional cost, though I don't believe it is necessary. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

It's far from every day that you get an Audemars Piguet Cobra in stock, especially one this great. This 1980s white gold example features a deep blue dial with diamonds for indices and, most importantly, diamond-set hands. Hidden behind a solid white gold case back is the beautifully finished manually wound Audemars Piguet calibre 21, taking us back to a time when beautifully finished movements were reserved for the eyes of the watchmakers. Thankfully, the incredible case and Cobra bracelet are for us all appreciate. I would not hesitate to book an appointment and see this gem for yourself!

Reference : 921
Movement : Manually Wound AP Cal. 2080
Age : Circa. Late 1980s/Early 1990s
Year : Circa. Late 1980s/Early 1990s
Case Size : 28mm
Case Thickness : 6mm
Lug to Lug : 36mm
Lugs : 20mm (Integrated)
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : None
Case Material : 18ct White Gold
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

Audemars Piguet was established in Le Brassus, a quaint village nestled within the Vallée de Joux. The company was founded in 1875 by two independent watchmakers, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, who collaborated to create the brand. A hallmark of their innovation, they launched the first minute repeater wristwatch in 1892 and followed it with the release of the first Grand Complication pocket watch in 1899, which included features such as a minute repeater, alarm, perpetual calendar, deadbeat seconds, chronograph, and split-seconds hand. In 1925, they introduced the thinnest pocket watch calibre, and in 1934, they released the first skeletonised pocket watch. By 1946, they had created the world’s thinnest wristwatch, and in 1955, they unveiled the first wristwatch equipped with a perpetual calendar that included a leap-year indicator. A pivotal moment for the brand occurred in 1972 at the Swiss Watch Show Baselworld, where they collaborated with designer Gerald Genta to conceptualise a luxury sports watch. This partnership led to the birth of the Royal Oak, which became known as the world’s most expensive steel watch. In 1975, Jacqueline Dimier designed the first ladies' Royal Oak. Despite the challenges posed by the quartz crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, Audemars Piguet continued to innovate, introducing the world’s first automatic Tourbillon in 1986. In 1992, a collaboration with Renaud et Papi resulted in the creation of the Manufacture Les Saignoles, a dedicated research centre for horology located in Le Locle, Switzerland. The Royal Oak Offshore collection was launched in 1993 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak. Stephen Urquhart, then CEO of Audemars Piguet, tasked Emmanuel Gueit, a young Swiss designer, with creating a watch tailored for youthful sports enthusiasts. The Royal Oak Offshore was unveiled at Baselworld in 1993, although Genta disapproved, feeling it strayed too far from his original design. The all-black Royal Oak Offshore gained additional visibility when it was featured in Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1999 film, "End of Days." In 2020, the Audemars Piguet museum was inaugurated in the Vallée de Joux, showcasing over 300 pieces that celebrate the brand’s extensive history. The impressive Arc building, housing all of the production facilities under one roof, was completed in 2025. Today, Audemars Piguet remains a family-owned business, represented by the fourth generation, Olivier Audemars, who serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors.