This model is one of the most beautiful and sought-after wristwatches made by Audemars Piguet. It is particularly rare with two-tone dial and in addition, the present watch is in original unrestored condition. The combination of the large-size case, teardrop lugs and visually appealing dial design make it one of the classic vintage wristwatches of the 1940s. A similar watch is illustrated in "Audemars Piguet" by Gisbert L. Brunner, Christian Pfeiffer-Belli and Martin K. Wehrli, p. 247.

Audemars Piguet, Le Brassus and Geneva.

Founded in 1875 by two watchmakers, Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet, aged 24 and 22, under the name "Audemars Piguet, Manufacture d?Horlogerie". Jules Audemars was born in Le Brassus in 1851, where he was trained as a watchmaker by master watchmakers of the area. After his apprenticeship, Audemars worked as a "repasseur", settling in 1874 in Gimel and opening a small business next to his workshop. He did not obtain the success he was hoping for, probably due to the recession which was then beginning, and 18 months later, decided to return to Le Brassus, looking for a new situation more in keeping with his exceptional watchmaking skill. Edward Auguste Piguet, born two years after Jules Audemars, received a similar education. Piguet completed his education as a "repasseur" at Charles Capt. and met Audemars in 1875 in Le Brassus. For a time, the two watchmakers worked closely together without legally officializing their partnership. Nevertheless, a brand was registered at the "Office technique de l?Edition et de la Publicité" in Bern on December, 6, 1882 for movements and watch cases, In 1889, the Audemars Piguet company was officially founded. In the records, Audemars Piguet & Cie is presented as a manufacturer active all year long, employing 10 male employees. In 1880, they opened a branch in Geneva, where commercial possibilities were the greatest. Due to his exceptional technical abilities, Audemars was the technical manager of the firm. He patented several inventions in Switzerland and in the USA, and traveled extensively, particularly to America, where the potential for trade fascinated him. Piguet was the financial specialist of the firm. The two men managed the company together until 1918, when Jules Audemars died at the age of 67. Edward Piguet died the following year. Certain of their models became symbolic of the skill and technique of Audemars Piguet. One of them, a minuterepeating, perpetual calendar, split-seconds chronograph pocket watch, was presented at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889. They firm opened stores in Paris, London, Berlin, and ew York, and they made watches of different styles: French, English, German, and American, which was considered a very successful and efficient strategy. They also took part in several important exhibitions and fairs. Around 1915, the company started to manufacture wristwatches, which were very fashionable, including repeating wristwatches. In 1920, after the death of the two founders, Audemars Piguet created the smallest minute-repeating watch, and, in 1911, the 10??? movement, while continuing the production of traditional and complicated pocket watches. All Audemars Piguet products were sold in Le Brassus, Geneva, London, Paris, Berlin and New York. The firm worked in collaboration with important importers and retailers all over the world. Their clients included, among others: Dent and Frodsham in London, Tiffany in New York, Cartier and Breguet in Paris, Bulgari in Rome, and Dürrstein in Glashütte and Dresden. After the New York Stock Exchange crash in 1929, Audemars Piguet, like other manufacturers, lost a large part of their American clientele. Although 1932 was the worse year in the firm?s history, the Audemars and Piguet families and their descendants retained ownership. By 1933, the economic situation of the firm was already much improved, and, at the start of WWII, the major part of the Audemars Piguet production was sold to the USA. Later, seeing strong interest from clients for skeletonized wristwatches and pocket watches, Audemars Piguet included these among their standard production. They are still produced today, as are the firm?s famous complicated pocket watches invented over 100 years ago.