Audemars Piguet. A fine 18K gold automatic tourbillon wristwatch with Guarantee and box

On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT wil… Read more

Various Properties

Audemars Piguet. A fine 18K gold automatic tourbillon wristwatch with Guarantee and box

Signed Audemars Piguet, Tourbillon Automatique model, ref. 25643BA, watch no. 84, circa 1988

Details

Audemars Piguet. A fine 18K gold automatic tourbillon wristwatch with Guarantee and box
Signed Audemars Piguet, Tourbillon Automatique model, ref. 25643BA, watch no. 84, circa 1988
MOVEMENT: automatic, cal. 2870, tourbillon regulator with titanium cage, 32 jewels
DIAL: gilt, chased, applied dot numerals on blank track, aperture revealing oscillator, aperture for tourbillon
CASE: 18K gold, rectangular, hinged lugs, snap on back acting as movement plate showing six jewels and engraved “Tourbillon Automatique No. 84”, 28.5 mm width, 32.5 mm. length
SIGNED: case, crystal and movement
BUCKLE: 18K gold Audemars Piguet double deployant clasp
ACCOMPANIED BY: Audemars Piguet Certificat d’Authenticité et d’Exclusivité, Bucherer Service Invoice dated 19 March 2012, and Audemars Piguet leather fitted presentation box. Furthermore delivered with Audemars piguet Extract from the Archives confirming original invoicing of the present watch in 1987 in the USA.

Special Notice

On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 8% on both the premium as well as the hammer price. Many of the watches offered for sale in this catalogue are pictured with straps made of endangered or protected animal materials such as alligator or crocodile. These endangered species straps are shown for display purposes only and are not for sale. Christie’s will remove and retain the strap prior to shipment from the sale site. At some sale sites, Christie’s may, at its discretion, make the displayed endangered species strap available to the buyer of the lot free of charge if collected in person from the sale site within 1 year of the date of the sale. Please check with the department for details on a particular lot.

Lot Essay

Produced in around 350 examples, the "Tourbillon Automatique" model was launched in 1986, the first self-winding series produced tourbillon. At the time believed to be the world's thinnest and smallest self-winding tourbillon movement. It was furthermore the first tourbillon carriage in the history of mechanical watches made of titanium. The tourbillon rotates anti-clockwise once every 50 seconds. The slimness of the case design results from the use of the back plate of the movement as the case back, resulting in the height of only 4.8 mm including the gold case. The textured sunray design of the dial is derived from an ancient Egyptian relief carving of Akhenaten.

We thank Audemars Piguet Heritage Department for the assistance in researching this timepiece.

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