Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007

LOT 204

Property of an American Gentleman ?Split-Seconds Chronograph with Minute-Repeating? Audemars Piguet & Co, Geneva, No. 11628. Made circa 1910. Very fine, thin, keyless, 18K yellow gold dress watch with split-seconds chronograph and minute repeating.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 12,000 - 15,000 / USD 16,000 - 20,000

C. Four-body, ?demi bassine?, solid, polished, hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel with painted black Breguet numerals, outer minute/seconds and 1/5th seconds divisions with red five minute markers, sunk subsidiary dials for the seconds and 30-minute register. Oxydized ?spade? hands. M. Cal. 17???, maillechort, ?oeil-de-perdrix? decoration, 33 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance , blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator, visible chronograph works. Dial and movement signed, case numbered. Diam. 47.4 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-53-01

Good

Reprinted

HANDS Original

Notes

What is a split-seconds chronograph? A split-seconds chronograph or 'rattrapante' is a type of chronograph watch with two coaxial superimposed centerseconds hands that are controlled by two push-buttons. One push-button controls the split-seconds hand to stop or join the chronograph hand. The other push-buttons control both hands and all the functions of the chronograph. The chronograph hand and the split-seconds hand are used for timing several events that start simultaneously, but are of diffrent durations. To operate the split-seconds chronograph, both hands are started and remain superimposed. Then at the end of the first duration, the split-seconds hand can be stopped while the chronograph hand continues to move. The duration of the first event can be read. After recording, the split-seconds hand can be released to instantly move and join the chronograph hand, synchronizing with it and thus being ready for another recording. At the end of each event the hands then can be stoppeand returned to zero.