Audemars Piguet is one of the most hallowed watchmaking brands, and one of the last family-owned manufacturers. While nowadays most renowned for the Royal Oak line of timepieces, the brand’s more classical creations are absolute masterpieces of design and technology, and manufactured in extremely restricted numbers. Both the ultimate mastery of the art and the limited output are a direct link with the past of Audemars Piguet. In fact, the company is possibly the last Swiss brand to use - well into the second half of the twentieth century - the etablissage system, consisting in a myriad of small highly specialised suppliers each producing specific components of the watch (gears, springs, dials, hands etc.) which are assembled by the manufacturer in-house, implying a very low production.

The present example marvelously exemplifies how the brand manages to interpret its distinguished heritage in light of the modern evolution of watchmaking design. It features the two arguably most sought-after horological complications - the tourbillon and the minute repeater, but the case is made out of titanium, making the piece a nearly unbelievably lightweight. The dial design is simple but full of character, the exposed tourbillon being the undoubted protagonist, subtly complemented by the guillochage and the asymmetric chapter ring for the hours.

Under a technical point of view, the watch hides a remarkable surprise: instead of using the standard arrangement for the minute repeater (1 to 12 low-pitched chimes for the hours, 1 to 3 double chimes for the quarters, and up to 14 high-pitched chimes for the minutes), the present movement strikes hours, tens of minutes, and minutes. For example, at 11:55, one will hear 11 low-pitched chimes, 5 double chimes and 5 high-pitched chimes. A highly unusual combination which underlines the utmost mastery of the craft achieved by the company.

The last example (10/10) of a numbered 10 pieces series, the watch is offered in extremely well-preserved condition and complete of all its accessories, including the Audemars Piguet warranty dated 28th July 2008 stamped Audemars Piguet Boutique New York, instruction manual, hang tag, additional leather bracelet, quality control certificate, Audemars Piguet wooden piano shaped amplifying display case, outer packaging and fitted presentation box. This is an unmissable opportunity for the collector of rare and highly complicated works of horological art.

The present watch is being sold to benefit The One Drop Foundation, a charity striving to provide safe drinking water to all communities.