Audemars Piguet Grande Complication Automatique Calibre 2885 Presented in 1996 the Calibre 2885 Grande Complication Automatique is fitted with multiple horological functions: eleven of them! One of which the week of the year is rarely seen. Calibres 2885 achieved the great task of integrating a triple complication mechanism (i.e. repeater chronograph and calendar) into the small space of a wristwatch case. At Audemars Piguet this technology had previously been restricted to pocket watches. Before this tour-deforce watchmakers had never imagined combining in such a small space and even less so adding in a self-winding system. Only 58 examples of the Calibre 2885 “Grande Complication” automatic wristwatch were made between 1996 and 2002. - 12 524 (1 piece) - 25 806 (26 pces) - Ref.25 851 (1 pce) - Ref 25 856 (1 pce) - Ref 25 865 (14 pce “Royal Oak”) - Ref 25 866 (10 pces) - Ref 25 953 (2 pces) - Ref 25 985 (1 pce) - Ref 25 990 (1 pce) - Ref 25 996 (1 pce). The production since 2002 is not documented by the manufacturer for the moment. The pieces like the present watch which are fully skeletonized are even rarer because they require extra months of work to cut and engrave the components. “Assembly adjusting and casing up a calibre 2885 require between four and six months of the utmost concentration combined with immensely rare skill of experience. Furthermore the watchmaker who assembled this piece will be responsible for its maintenance and repair right throughout his or her career in the Grande Complication workshop. In the same spirit as the Grande Complication pocket watches of the late 19th century every component even those entirely hidden are hand-finished with the utmost expertise care and dedication to the preservation of the traditional arts.” Bibliography Brunner Gisbert L. Pfeiffer-Belli Christian & Wehrli Martin K Audemars Piguet. Masterpieces of classical watchmaking Le Brassus (Vallée de Joux) Editions Audemars Piguet 1993 pp. 278- 279 ill. 466 a-d and technical drawings. Vivas Sebastian & Friedman Michael L. Audemars Piguet 20th century Complicated Wristwatches Le Brassus (Vallée de Joux) Editions Audemars Piguet 2018 chapter V “Rebirth beyond the quartz crisis” part 5 “Multiple Complications since 1992” p. 227 pp. 264-269 and pp. 295 297 299-300 303-304.