Audemars Piguet - Double Signed: A Celebration of the Finest Partnerships of Manufacturers and Retailers Geneva Friday, November 8, 2019 | Phillips

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    Audemars Piguet

    Double Signed, Geneva, 9 November 2019

  • Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet
    Year: 1939
    Reference No: Photo number 513
    Movement No: 44'508
    Case No: 44'508
    Material: 18K pink gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal 13CCV, 23 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold
    Dimensions: 33mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed, dial further signed Gobbi-Milan
    Accessories: Accompanied by Audemars Piguet Extract from the Archives confirming production of the watch on November 2, 1939 and its sale to Gobbi in Milan
    Literature: This watch is featured in I Chronografi da Polso Volume I by Peter White, p.118

  • Catalogue Essay

    "Rare" is a word that can hardly begin to describe vintage Audemars Piguet chronographs. In fact, little more than three hundred examples were produced overall between 1930 and 1962, after which no more chronograph wristwatches would be made until the modern era.

    Such a small production combined with the little information publicly available about the topic resulted in a very obscure field, until the recent publication by Audemars Piguet “Audemars Piguet 20th Century Complicated Wristwatches”, which combines all available archive information on complicated timepieces made by the company during the past century. The present watch has no reference number, but is described in the Audemars Piguet archives as a watch corresponding to photo number 513 “Lunette Monnaie” or coin bezel.

    According to the brand’s archives only 19 mentions of this model (even though it is unclear if 5 of them describe the same watches) are made, of which two were sold to Gobbi in Milan.
    Made between 1937 and 1940, the watches were sold between 1938 and 1941.

    This achingly gorgeous watch made in 1939 is in absolutely stunning condition, with an unmolested case retaining polished and brushed surfaces, and crisp hallmarks on the case side. Its long elongated lugs, oval pushers and thin bezel giving it a greater impression of size.

    The perfectly preserved dial is a wonderful study in Bauhaus design with its large numerals at 12 and 6 balancing the chronograph registers at 3 and 9. The 30-minute counter has a 4/5 indication, often found in vintage Audemars Piguet chronographs. It corresponds to the passing of 45 minutes when the hand has carried out one and a half rotations. This comes from a request from Jacques-Louis Audemars who was a great football fan and who wanted his watch to indicate the half time.

    A vintage Audemars Piguet chronograph is already a rare bird, but one in pink gold, signed Gobbi and in such amazing condition is a wonderful opportunity to add such a masterpiece to a collection of fine vintage chronographs.

  • Artist Biography

    Audemars Piguet

    Swiss • 1881

    A 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.

    View More Works

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Ref. Photo number 513
An extremely attractive, well preserved and rare pink gold chronograph wristwatch

1939
33mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed, dial further signed Gobbi-Milan

Estimate
CHF70,000 - 140,000 
€64,500-129,000
$70,500-141,000

Sold for CHF137,500

Contact Specialist
Virginie Liatard-Roessli
Specialist, Head of Sale
+41 76 338 91 03
vliatard@phillips.com

Double Signed: A Celebration of the Finest Partnerships of Manufacturers and Retailers

Geneva Auction 9 November 2019