Audemars Piguet - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE Hong Kong Monday, November 30, 2015 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Audemars Piguet
    Year: 1929
    Movement No: 39'735
    Material: Platinum, diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds
    Calibre: Mechanical, 5/7SB, 18 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Platinum, diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald-set bracelet, 150 mm. maximum length
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum and diamond-set concealed folding clasp
    Dimensions: 17.5 mm. wide
    Signed: Movement signed, case partially numbered, bracelet manufactured by Egouvillon Lafon & Cie

  • Catalogue Essay

    This spectacular platinum tutti-frutti bracelet watch with Audemars Piguet movement has been executed to a very high standard, is offered in beautiful, original condition and allows us to enjoy the art deco period.

    In the late 1920s, a time of economic expansion and wide spread growth filled creativity in areas of the arts, literature, architecture and design. With the crash in 1929 and the Great Depression that followed, they existed a rather uncertain era and the luxury jewelry houses and watch manufactures tried to encourage new spending by manufacturing exquisitely decorated objects such as the tutti-frutti bracelet watch.

    Tutti-Frutti bracelet and watch designs consist of a mixture of rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds that give so much colours and they are often set as undulating vines with craft-gem leaves, flowers and fruits. There are an assortment of patterns and motifs that provide exotic fantasies for their owners. As women sort to expand their social and economic freedom they gained during the war years, hunger for novelty, luxury and frivolity was widespread and there became a fascination with Egypt, which was stimulated by accounts of artists and travellers visiting the region. The 1920s included short skirts and cropped hair and a demand for new forms of jewelry existed. The tutti-frutti helped capture the inspiration from these distant lands and the quest for essential. The essence of beauty was illustrated in the stunning colour combinations mixing these multi-colour gems engraved with floral motif. The tutti-frutti overturned the conventional jewellery design.

  • 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.

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A very fine and important lady's platinum and multi gem-set tutti-frutti bracelet watch

1929
17.5 mm. wide
Movement signed, case partially numbered, bracelet manufactured by Egouvillon Lafon & Cie

Estimate
HK$560,000 - 720,000 

Sold for HK$937,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE

Hong Kong Auction 1 December 2015 11am