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Lot 32 AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet. A rare, large and unusual 18K white gold octagonal electroquartz wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, black dial and bracelet
SIGNED AUDEMARS PIGUET, QUARTZ, BETA 21 MODEL, REF. 6001BC, MOVEMENT NO. 153'697, CASE NO. 100'603, MANUFACTURED IN 1975
Closed14 May 2018
Price Realised
CHF 15,000
More Information
Specialist note
According to the Archives of Audemars Piguet the present watch was sold in 1975 in Switzerland.
This very rare model is a remarkable example of 1970s style, defined by the generous case proportions and its very geometrical case design. Moreover, it is powered by the legendary Beta-21 movement, the first quartz movement produced in Switzerland, and an epitome of the 1970s, which were the main theatre of the "quartz revolution".
The Beta-21 electroquartz movement was developed by a consortium of twenty watch companies at the Swiss Electronic Research Centre or CEH (Centre Electronique Horloger) in Neuchâtel. It was the first quartz movement for wristwatches with analogue display and introduced at the Basel Fair in April 1970. The Beta-21 movement was accurate to 5 seconds per month, which was far superior to any automatic and manual-winding watch at the time.
This very rare model is a remarkable example of 1970s style, defined by the generous case proportions and its very geometrical case design. Moreover, it is powered by the legendary Beta-21 movement, the first quartz movement produced in Switzerland, and an epitome of the 1970s, which were the main theatre of the "quartz revolution".
The Beta-21 electroquartz movement was developed by a consortium of twenty watch companies at the Swiss Electronic Research Centre or CEH (Centre Electronique Horloger) in Neuchâtel. It was the first quartz movement for wristwatches with analogue display and introduced at the Basel Fair in April 1970. The Beta-21 movement was accurate to 5 seconds per month, which was far superior to any automatic and manual-winding watch at the time.