187
Audemars Piguet
Ref. 14829PT
"Winter"
A whimsical and wonderfully well-preserved platinum wristwatch with gold skeletonized movement and decorative engraved outer track celebrating Winter
Full-Cataloguing
- Time only
- Only known example of the model to have appeared at auction
- Bearing white gold movement
- Practically mint condition
Watch collecting, at times, reserves incredible surprises - as exemplified by the present lot. Previously unknown to the public, the present watch is part of a 4-piece set celebrating the 4 Seasons.
Each one of the four pieces features the same case design defined by clean sober lines, elegant brush finishing on all surfaces and stepped lugs - the one concession to flamboyance. Such a restrained case design is juxtaposed to the extremely elaborate dial.
In fact there is virtually no dial: the signature is applied underneath the crystal, and the superbly skeletonized movement becomes the star of the show. Surprisingly, as boldly stamped at 6 o’clock, the bridges are realized out of 14k white gold. An extremely unusual choice (now popularized by F.P. Journe) which underlines the utmost refinement of this collection.
Between the movement and the case, one can find an engraved decorative track, different for each model and celebrating the respective season.
In this instance, winter is symbolized by the plethora of tiny snowflakes. True to the proverb, each of them has been painstakingly realized by hand and thus they are all different from each other. They only graze each other at the tips of their branches - providing a further element of skeletonization which perfectly harmonizes with the movement.
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.