Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Dec 02, 2003

LOT 307

Audemars Piguet, Genève, "Tourbillon Automatique", No. 266. Production of this reference started in1986.Very fine and very unusual, thin, rectangular "galbé", self-winding, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with visible oneminutetourbillon regulator and an integrated 18K yellow gold and abalone shell Audemars Piguet link bracelet withdeployant clasp.

C. two-body, solid, polished and brushed, stepped bezel, back winder, sapphire crystal. D. yellow gold and abalone shell in a "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 oscillatingweight with the initials "AP". Black oxydized gold "Feuille" hands. M. Cal. 11''', hand-engraved, 32 jewels, straight line leverescapement with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator with titanium cage, monometallic balance,self-compensating flat balance-spring.Dial and movement signed. Case numbered.Dim. 29 x 36 mm.This watch, the first model of self-winding wristwatches ever made with a tourbillonmovement is the thinnest and smallest in the world. The movement, only 4,8 mm.thick obliging Audemars Piguet to use the back of the case as the back plate. Forthe first time in the history of horology, it was possible to realize a tourbillon cagein titanium, a very light, yet strong and resistant metal.