The Art of American Horology & Colle...

New York, Nov 28, 2001

LOT 447

Audemars Piguet, Genève, "Tourbillon Automatique", No. 277. Launched in 1986.Fine and interesting, flat, self-winding, rectangular "galbé", 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with one minute tourbillon regulator and an 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet deployant clasp.

C. two-body, solid, polished and brushed, stepped bezel, teardrop and hooded lugs, back winder. D. yellow gold with embossed sun rays design, dot indexes for the hours, apertures for the visible tourbillon regulator on the 11, and on the 6, for the oscillating weight of the automatic winding with the initials AP. "Feuille" burnished steel hands. M. Cal. 11 ''', engraved, 32 jewels, tourbillon regulator with titanium cage, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating flt balance-spring.Dial and movement signed. Case numbered.Dim. 29 x 36 mm.This watch is the first model of self-winding wristwatches ever made with a tourbillon movement and is the flattest and the smallest in the world. The movement is only 4,8 mm. thick, and Audemars Piguet had to use the back of the case as a back plate. For the first time in the history of horology, it has been possible to realize a tourbillon cage in titanium, a very light and resistant metal.