Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York, The Grand Havana Room, Sep 20, 2006

LOT 236

"World?s Smallest Tourbillon Automatique" Audemars Piguet, Genève, "Tourbillon Automatique", No. 70. Made circa 1987. Very fine, thin, self-winding, rectangular "galbé", 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator and oscillating weight, with an 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet deployant clasp.

USD 12,000 - 15,000

EUR 9,500 - 12,000

Sold: USD 13,570

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, stepped bezel, small teardrop lugs, back-winder, sapphire crystal. D. Yellow gold with embossed "Sun Ray" pattern, gold dot indexes for the hours, apertures for the visible tourbillon regulator with polished steel bridge at 11 and at 6 for the oscillating weight with the initials "AP". Black oxydized gold "feuille" hands. M. Cal. 11'?', hand engraved, 32 jewels, straight-line lever escapement with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator with titanum cage, monometallic balance, selfcompensating flat balance-spring. Crystal and movement signed. Case numbered. Dim. 29 x 33 mm. Thickness 5.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3

Good

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch, the world?s first automatic watch with tourbillon, features what is considered even today to have the world?s smallest tourbillon cage and the first tourbillon cage to be made from titanium. This watch has become a highly sought-after collector?s piece.