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Lot Essay
It is extremely unusual to find such a fine and complicated watch made for Imperial presentation. This sumptuous timepiece is also signed on the movement and cuvette ‘L. Audemars’ and, although it cannot be substantiated, it is possible that the movement was made by Louis Audemars and sold by his representative in Russia, Paul Buhré, the official supplier to the Russian Court.
A watch of this quality and complication would have naturally been the most expensive and would have been presented by the Tsar himself to only the very highest rank of recipient.
Watches embellished with the Tsar's monogram or the Russian Imperial eagle, such as the present watch, were exclusively made by the order of the Czarist Court. These watches were never available to the general public and were not featured in the firm's price lists of the period.
The rarity of the present timepiece is furthermore enhanced by its very attractive condition, the presence of the original presentation box and the 18K gold case, a rather unusual feature as the majority of Buhré's presentation watches for the Imperial Court were made in 14K gold.
The 8 complications
The present timepiece impresses with the following 8 complications, in addition to the essential timekeeping functions such as hours, minutes and seconds which are not considered complications:
1. Minute repeater
2. Perpetual Calendar
3. Four year cycle
4. Days of the month
5. Days of the week
6. Months
7. Moon phases and age
8. Chronograph
Paul-Léopold Buhré, a Swiss watchmaker from Le Locle who had emigrated to Russia, opened in 1815 a small workshop in St. Petersburg. The business was later taken over by his son Paul.
Thanks to Paul's good relations with various Russian ministries and especially the Imperial Court, Buhré obtained the title of Official Supplier to His Majesty. As a result he founded his own watch factory in Le Locle, producing expensive watches very popular amongst Russian nobles and officers. The Russian Government bought Buhré timepieces as rewards for officers, soldiers and employees of the public services.
Nicholas II or Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov (1868-1917), known in the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer, was the last Emperor of All Russia, ruling from 1 November 1894 until his abdication on 15 March 1917.
A watch of this quality and complication would have naturally been the most expensive and would have been presented by the Tsar himself to only the very highest rank of recipient.
Watches embellished with the Tsar's monogram or the Russian Imperial eagle, such as the present watch, were exclusively made by the order of the Czarist Court. These watches were never available to the general public and were not featured in the firm's price lists of the period.
The rarity of the present timepiece is furthermore enhanced by its very attractive condition, the presence of the original presentation box and the 18K gold case, a rather unusual feature as the majority of Buhré's presentation watches for the Imperial Court were made in 14K gold.
The 8 complications
The present timepiece impresses with the following 8 complications, in addition to the essential timekeeping functions such as hours, minutes and seconds which are not considered complications:
1. Minute repeater
2. Perpetual Calendar
3. Four year cycle
4. Days of the month
5. Days of the week
6. Months
7. Moon phases and age
8. Chronograph
Paul-Léopold Buhré, a Swiss watchmaker from Le Locle who had emigrated to Russia, opened in 1815 a small workshop in St. Petersburg. The business was later taken over by his son Paul.
Thanks to Paul's good relations with various Russian ministries and especially the Imperial Court, Buhré obtained the title of Official Supplier to His Majesty. As a result he founded his own watch factory in Le Locle, producing expensive watches very popular amongst Russian nobles and officers. The Russian Government bought Buhré timepieces as rewards for officers, soldiers and employees of the public services.
Nicholas II or Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov (1868-1917), known in the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer, was the last Emperor of All Russia, ruling from 1 November 1894 until his abdication on 15 March 1917.