Contained within the centre of the dial is the main attraction of the present timepiece – the wandering-hours display. A watch with no hands; the Star Wheel must be one of, if not, the most daring and avant-garde timepieces in the Audemars Piguet collection. It was in 1991 that Audemars Piguet rediscovered and reintroduced this unusual mechanism that originally elaborated in the 18th century upon the request of Pope Alexander VII.
Joining creativity, beauty and technical wonder, the asymmetrical time display is made thanks to three rotating sapphire disks with printed hours rotating on a centre wheel respectively pointing to the minutes on the upper part of the dial. The model was made available in yellow gold, pink gold, stainless steel and platinum with either a guilloché dial or a floral engraved decoration.
The present watch feels slim on the wrist, measuring a subtle 36mm, yet its delicate floral engraved lower dial, and stepped platinum case gives it undeniable gravitas. Presented in excellent overall condition and accompanied by its certificate and original presentation box, this Star Wheel will delight the collector who is looking for a rare and elegant timepiece that will keep on surprising every time one lays eyes on it.