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拍品专文
According to the Archives of Audemars Piguet, the present watch was made in 1912 and sold in 1924.
Consigned by a private collector and preserved in very good original overall condition, the watch features furthermore the inlaid enamel decoration to bezel and bow, typical for Audemars Piguet's triple complications from the period.
Based on the engraved inscription on the cuvette of the watch it can be assumed that it was presented to Frank Ballou Stearns (1879-1955) by his wife an early automotive pioneer who, in 1896, built his first experimental car as a student, aged seventeen, in the basement of the family home. In 1898, he developed a gasoline-fuel buggy-style automobile with one-cylinder engine, tiller steering, wire wheels, planetary transmission, and chain drive. In the same year he founded F.B. Stearns & Company together with his partners, the brothers Raymond M. and Ralph L. Owen.
As early as 1901, F.B. Stearns introduced a steering wheel instead of the tiller, and advanced to a gasoline runabout with a 4083cc (101ci) one-cylinder engine under the seat bench, and single chain drive. Until then, about 50 cars had been built. In 1902, Stearns & Company offered a variety of models, including a touring car with armored wood-framed weighing 2800 lb. or 1270 kgs, seated six passengers, and cost US$3,000.
Stearns retired in 1919 and sold his automotive company to J. N. Willys in 1925; Willys operated Stearns-Knight as a non-integrated affiliate of WillysOverland until 1929 when the F.B. Stearns Company was liquidated.
Consigned by a private collector and preserved in very good original overall condition, the watch features furthermore the inlaid enamel decoration to bezel and bow, typical for Audemars Piguet's triple complications from the period.
Based on the engraved inscription on the cuvette of the watch it can be assumed that it was presented to Frank Ballou Stearns (1879-1955) by his wife an early automotive pioneer who, in 1896, built his first experimental car as a student, aged seventeen, in the basement of the family home. In 1898, he developed a gasoline-fuel buggy-style automobile with one-cylinder engine, tiller steering, wire wheels, planetary transmission, and chain drive. In the same year he founded F.B. Stearns & Company together with his partners, the brothers Raymond M. and Ralph L. Owen.
As early as 1901, F.B. Stearns introduced a steering wheel instead of the tiller, and advanced to a gasoline runabout with a 4083cc (101ci) one-cylinder engine under the seat bench, and single chain drive. Until then, about 50 cars had been built. In 1902, Stearns & Company offered a variety of models, including a touring car with armored wood-framed weighing 2800 lb. or 1270 kgs, seated six passengers, and cost US$3,000.
Stearns retired in 1919 and sold his automotive company to J. N. Willys in 1925; Willys operated Stearns-Knight as a non-integrated affiliate of WillysOverland until 1929 when the F.B. Stearns Company was liquidated.