Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 08, 2015

LOT 297

AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK CONCEPT CW1 LIMITED EDITION Audemars Piguet,Genève, "Royal Oak Concept", No. 543743, case No. E 88193, Ref. CW 1. Made in a limited edition of 150 pieces from 2002. Extremely fine, rare and unusual, oversized, tonneau-shaped, water-resistant, Alacrite wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, instantaneous mainspring torque indicator ("Dynamograph"), linear power- reserve indication, crown function mode push-button and indication, octagonal titanium bezel and an stainless steel Audemars Piguet deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original special fitted box, Certificate of Origin and user manual.

CHF 130,000 - 180,000

HKD 1,045,000 - 1,500,000 / USD 135,000 - 187,000

Sold: CHF 171,750

Three-body, polished and brushed, case back and bezel secured with 8 hexagonal screws, screwed-down hexagonal winding crown and push-button to select the crown functions, transparent case back, sapphire crystals. Transparent with outermost luminous dots, subsidiary indicators for the mainspring torque, linear power-reserve, seconds, the winding/neutral/setting functions of the crown, visible one-minute tourbillon regulator under a matte "serpentine" bridge. Luminous steel baton hands. Cal. 2896 with skeletonized titanium movement bridges, 36 jewels, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator with 3 equidistant steel arms, monometallic balance with mean time screws, titanium shock-absorbers, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 1*

As new

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIM. 44 x 57 mm. THICKNESS 18 mm. ROYAL OAK "CONCEPT" The "Concept" was produced in a limited edition of only 150 watches ? 30 PIECES IN 2002 ? 60 IN 2003 ? 60 IN 2004. At the time one of AUDEMARS PIGUET's most complicated watches and most innovative model. Entirely developed and built by AP's subsidiary RENAUD & PAPI, the "CW 1" concept watch celebrates 30 years of "Royal Oak" history and breaks new ground with its highly unusual technical features: electro-erosion formed titanium shock absorbers to protect the tourbillon cage; a clutch system with mode pusher and indicator to wind the watch or change the time; titanium movement plates, which are light yet strong and an innovative linear power reserve indicator, which is calibrated for the number of turns the barrel makes (one barrel rotation equals circa 6 hours of operation). The watch case is machined from Alacrite 602, a new super-alloy used in aero-technology and medical applications. It consists of 57% Cobalt, 31% Chrome, 5% Tungsten and trace amounts of Carbon, Silicon and Iron. The material is extremely hard (Vickers Rate of 430) and difficult to work with, especially on such a challenging case design like the "Concept" watch. The CW 1 gives testimony to Audemars Piguet's horological audacity and impressively highlights that after 30 years of production the iconic ROYAL OAK still continues to surprise with innovative features both technically and esthetically.