Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 25860ST - ‘Kasparov’ with Tropical Petite Tapisserie Dial

An early Royal Oak ‘Kasparov’ Chronograph with a remarkable tropical dial, where rich bronze-brown tones bring a wonderful individuality to this iconic design. Some watches develop a personality that simply cannot be recreated. This Royal Oak Chronograph is one of them, with its dark Petite Tapisserie dial revealing beautiful copper, bronze and golden-brown tones as the light changes. Known among collectors as the ‘Kasparov’, the reference 25860 has a fascinating connection to chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov. Beyond that celebrated association, this example offers something particularly special: an early dial with a wonderfully distinctive tropical character. The classic 39mm stainless steel case retains attractive definition, with strong edges, brushed surfaces and contrasting polished bevels. Its integrated bracelet completes the unmistakable Royal Oak design and fits wrists up to approximately 19cm. The three contrasting chronograph registers, luminous markers and discreet date indication remain beautifully legible against the evolving dial colour. Inside beats the automatic calibre 2385, based on the Frédéric Piguet 1185. The watch has been fully serviced by an experienced professional watchmaker. For us, this combines two particularly appealing aspects of collecting: a celebrated Royal Oak reference and a dial whose individual character has developed naturally over time. Specifications: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 25860ST ‘Kasparov’ Late 1990s, case markings E-14xx / No. 15xx 39mm stainless steel case Tropical Petite Tapisserie dial with bronze-brown patina Three-register chronograph with date Automatic calibre 2385 Integrated steel bracelet, fitting wrists up to approximately 19cm Fully serviced by an experienced professional watchmaker One-year mechanical warranty Fully insured worldwide shipping included Historical Context Introduced in 1997 for the Royal Oak’s 25th anniversary, reference 25860 became the collection’s first self-winding chronograph. Its slim calibre 2385 allowed Audemars Piguet to preserve the original Royal Oak’s elegant 39mm proportions. The nickname ‘Kasparov’ comes from legendary chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, an Audemars Piguet ambassador from 1996 who regularly wore the chronograph during professional matches. His association with the watch became so recognisable that collectors adopted his name for the reference. Early examples featured the finer Petite Tapisserie dial. Some dark dials subsequently developed the striking bronze-brown tropical patina seen here, giving these first-generation chronographs an additional layer of collector appeal.