208
Audemars Piguet
Ref. 25750BA
Jules Audemars Grande Sonnerie
An extremely fine and rare limited edition yellow gold quarter repeating grande & petite sonnerie wristwatch
- Estimate
- CHF25,000 - 45,000€22,000 - 39,600$25,600 - 46,100
CHF43,750
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Audemars Piguet
- Year
- 1998
- Reference No
- 25750BA
- Movement No
- 404'082
- Case No
- D51176, Limited Edition No. 24/50
- Model Name
- Jules Audemars Grande Sonnerie
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 2868, 51 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 39mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Audemars Piguet fitted presentation box. Furthermore delivered with Audemars Piguet Extract from the Archives confirming sale of the present watch in Mexico in 1998.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Never ceasing to impress the world of Haute Horlogerie with always more audacious and refined timepieces, Audemars Piguet unveiled one of its ultimate timepieces in the late 1990s: the quarter repeater Grande & Petite Sonnerie. Extremely complex, this wristwatch is comprised of more than 500 parts and includes both Grande and Petite Sonnerie as well as an on-demand quarter repeating function.
Considered as the “King of complications”, the Grande Sonnerie is seen by most connoisseurs as the ultimate display of watchmaking mastery and a complication extremely few manufacturers have managed to master in wristwatch format. This feature enables the automatic indication of the passage of hours and quarters by an intricate system of gongs tuned as musical instruments. Unlike the Petite Sonnerie, the Grande Sonnerie chimes the hours and quarters at each quarter of an hour, whereas the Petite Sonnerie only indicates the quarter hour.
The present watch is housed in a delicate streamlined case with satin finish lugs and band contrasting with a polished bezel. The equilibrium of the dial is extremely appealing and its simplicity is in stark contrast with the complexity of the movement.
On the case side, one may find two special features: a quarter repeater button placed near 11 o’clock to activate the on-demand quarter repeating function and a slide placed near 2 o’clock featuring a three-gradient scale which allows the owner to change the watch mode from silent, to Petite Sonnerie, to Grande Sonnerie. Considering the charm and refinement of the chimes there is little reason to believe that the “Silent” mode would ever be activated.
Part of a limited edition of 50 pieces in yellow gold, this model is without a doubt among the most refined, elegant and collectible wristwatches made by the house of Le Brassus and a superb opportunity for the collector to own one of the very few Grande & Petite Sonnerie wristwatches ever made.
Considered as the “King of complications”, the Grande Sonnerie is seen by most connoisseurs as the ultimate display of watchmaking mastery and a complication extremely few manufacturers have managed to master in wristwatch format. This feature enables the automatic indication of the passage of hours and quarters by an intricate system of gongs tuned as musical instruments. Unlike the Petite Sonnerie, the Grande Sonnerie chimes the hours and quarters at each quarter of an hour, whereas the Petite Sonnerie only indicates the quarter hour.
The present watch is housed in a delicate streamlined case with satin finish lugs and band contrasting with a polished bezel. The equilibrium of the dial is extremely appealing and its simplicity is in stark contrast with the complexity of the movement.
On the case side, one may find two special features: a quarter repeater button placed near 11 o’clock to activate the on-demand quarter repeating function and a slide placed near 2 o’clock featuring a three-gradient scale which allows the owner to change the watch mode from silent, to Petite Sonnerie, to Grande Sonnerie. Considering the charm and refinement of the chimes there is little reason to believe that the “Silent” mode would ever be activated.
Part of a limited edition of 50 pieces in yellow gold, this model is without a doubt among the most refined, elegant and collectible wristwatches made by the house of Le Brassus and a superb opportunity for the collector to own one of the very few Grande & Petite Sonnerie wristwatches ever made.
Audemars Piguet
Swiss | 1881A specialist in the manufacture of complications since it was established in 1881, Audemars Piguet never ceases to impress with a rich history of creating bold, even audacious, timepieces underpinned by traditional watchmaking at its finest. This Le Brassus-based Swiss manufacturer is one of only two major manufacturers still owned by the founding family. Since its earliest days, AP is considered a leader in the field of minute repeaters and grande complication pocket and wristwatches. The brand is devoted to preserving the history of watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux, showcased at their superb museum in Le Brassus.
Today, the brand is best known for its Royal Oak models, a revolutionary luxury sports watch launched in 1972. Other key models include early minute repeating wristwatches, vintage chronograph wristwatches, such as the oversized reference 5020, perpetual calendar watches and the Royal Oak Offshore, first introduced in 1993.
Browse MakerToday, the brand is best known for its Royal Oak models, a revolutionary luxury sports watch launched in 1972. Other key models include early minute repeating wristwatches, vintage chronograph wristwatches, such as the oversized reference 5020, perpetual calendar watches and the Royal Oak Offshore, first introduced in 1993.