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Lot Essay
It is on incredibly complicated timepieces such as this exceptional Louis Audemars watch that the Swiss watch industry built the foundations of the centre of excellence that it has become today. This resplendent watch gives collectors the chance to obtain not only a highly complicated timepiece of the utmost quality and desirability but a significant piece of watchmaking history.
Such high complication watches are considered the pinnacle of traditional horological excellence. The combination of minute repeating, chronograph, and a perpetual calendar with moon phases is considered the classic ‘triple complication’ of watchmaking, and Louis Audemars’ execution of these wonders of micromechanics are considered to be among the best ever made. Such are the skills and length of time required to create these masterpieces that they were made only in extremely small numbers and were of course, extremely expensive. Showcasing Louis Audemars’ supremacy in traditional fine watch making during the second half of the 19th century, the company’s high-complication pocket watches are considered to be horological achievements of the highest level and still remain ultimate prizes for the most discerning and affluent collectors in the world.
This superlative watch impresses with no less than 9 complications (in addition to the essential timekeeping functions such as hours, minutes and seconds which are not considered complications):
1. The perpetual calendar
2. The days of the week
3. The months
4. The days of the month
5. The leap-year indication
6. The chronograph
7. The 30-minute register
8. The minute repeating
9. The phases of the moon & moon’s age
Louis-Benjamin Audemars
The celebrated watch manufacture was founded in 1811 by Louis-Benjamin Audemars (1782-1833) and his sons in Le Brassus, Switzerland. Louis-Benjamin was one of Switzerland's most eminent watchmakers, a creative genius, perfectionist and immensely hard worker. Following his apprenticeship with Philippe Samuel Meylan he worked for about two years as a "master pupil" for Breguet before establishing his own company. After Louis-Benjamin's death in 1833 his sons continued the business until 1885 when the firm was liquidated.
The manufacture made high quality pocket watches and invented various systems, notably a crown winding and hand setting mechanism in 1838; between 1838 and 1845, around 41 movements fitted with this invention were delivered to Patek in Geneva. Some of Louis Audemars' watches are among the most complicated timepieces ever made and were awarded with the highest distinctions at several 19th Century World Exhibitions.
During the 74 years of existence, the manufacture produced only some 9,000 watches corresponding to an average of 120 watches a year.
Such high complication watches are considered the pinnacle of traditional horological excellence. The combination of minute repeating, chronograph, and a perpetual calendar with moon phases is considered the classic ‘triple complication’ of watchmaking, and Louis Audemars’ execution of these wonders of micromechanics are considered to be among the best ever made. Such are the skills and length of time required to create these masterpieces that they were made only in extremely small numbers and were of course, extremely expensive. Showcasing Louis Audemars’ supremacy in traditional fine watch making during the second half of the 19th century, the company’s high-complication pocket watches are considered to be horological achievements of the highest level and still remain ultimate prizes for the most discerning and affluent collectors in the world.
This superlative watch impresses with no less than 9 complications (in addition to the essential timekeeping functions such as hours, minutes and seconds which are not considered complications):
1. The perpetual calendar
2. The days of the week
3. The months
4. The days of the month
5. The leap-year indication
6. The chronograph
7. The 30-minute register
8. The minute repeating
9. The phases of the moon & moon’s age
Louis-Benjamin Audemars
The celebrated watch manufacture was founded in 1811 by Louis-Benjamin Audemars (1782-1833) and his sons in Le Brassus, Switzerland. Louis-Benjamin was one of Switzerland's most eminent watchmakers, a creative genius, perfectionist and immensely hard worker. Following his apprenticeship with Philippe Samuel Meylan he worked for about two years as a "master pupil" for Breguet before establishing his own company. After Louis-Benjamin's death in 1833 his sons continued the business until 1885 when the firm was liquidated.
The manufacture made high quality pocket watches and invented various systems, notably a crown winding and hand setting mechanism in 1838; between 1838 and 1845, around 41 movements fitted with this invention were delivered to Patek in Geneva. Some of Louis Audemars' watches are among the most complicated timepieces ever made and were awarded with the highest distinctions at several 19th Century World Exhibitions.
During the 74 years of existence, the manufacture produced only some 9,000 watches corresponding to an average of 120 watches a year.