Audemars Piguet. A fine and very rare stainless steel oversized wristwatch with teardrop lugs
Lot 134 AUDEMARS PIGUET
"Early steel oversized"

Audemars Piguet. A fine and very rare stainless steel oversized wristwatch with teardrop lugs

Signed Audemars Piguet, Genève, movement no. 51’994, case no. 459’710. Manufactured in 1947

Closed15 May 2017

Price Realised

CHF 125,000

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Audemars Piguet. A fine and very rare stainless steel oversized wristwatch with teardrop lugs
Signed Audemars Piguet, Genève, movement no. 51’994, case no. 459’710. Manufactured in 1947
Movement: manual, cal. 13VZSS, 17 jewels
Dial: silvered dial, Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued steel feuille hands
Case: snap on back, teardrop lugs
Signed: case, dial and movement, movement number additionally punched on the back
Dimensions: 36 mm. diam.
With: Audemars Piguet Extract from the Archives confirming the sale of the present watch in 1949 in St-Moritz

Specialist note

According to the Audemars Piguet Archives, the present watch was made in 1947 with a satiné dial with luminous numerals. It was sold to Bittmann of St. Moritz in 1949.

This very attractive steel watch dating from the early post-war years impresses by its large diameter case of 36 mm and rare teardrop lugs. The mellow silvered dial contrasting with blued steel hands combine to create a look that is both bold and elegant at the same time. Very few steel watches of this design are known.
The atelier of Bittmann in St. Moritz was a very famous and highly respected luxury jewellers, the company sold several important Audemars Piguet’s watches in the mid-20th century including unique and complicated models.

For another example of a watch made by Audemars Piguet for Bittmann, St Moritz, see: Audemars Piguet, Brunner, Pfeiffer-Belli & Wehrli, Second Edition, 2000, p.138.