Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 11, 2012

LOT 586

LOUIS AUDEMARS WATCH WITH SIX COMPLICATIONS ? DUCAL & VICOMTE ARMS Louis Audemars, Brassus (Suisse), ?Quantieme Perpetuel Phase de Lune Repetition Minutes?, No. 12333. Sold in Paris in 1883 for 2100 Francs. Extremely fine and very rare, large, minute-repeating, 18K rose gold, cloisonnè and painted on enamel, keyless pocket watch with perpetual calendar, moon phases and lunar calendar.

CHF 50,000 - 70,000

USD 53,000 - 75,000 / EUR 42,000 - 58,000

C. Four body, bassine, polished, master mark MF (Meylan Freres), the front cover with a very fi nely painted on enamel and cloisonnè Ducal coat of arms, the back cover with a further fi nely painted on enamel and cloisonne Vicomte?s coat of arms and the motto ?Malo Mori Quam Faedari? (Death before Dishonor), fl at band. Hinged gold cuvette engraved with the listing of Louis Audemars prize medals from 1851-1879. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track with Arabic fi ve-minute numerals, subsidiary dials for the seconds, date, days of the week and months with leapyear cycle, aperture for the moon phases with lunar calendar on the edge. Gold spade hands. M. 19"', matte gilt brass, 31 jewels, straight line lever escapement with Audemars Bishop?s crook counterpoise, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs with two polished steel hammers, activated by a slide in the band. Dial, case and cuvette signed, case with punch mark MF for Meylan Freres. Diam. 53 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-71-01

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairlines

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch is the best quality Audemars minute-repeater caliber with perpetual calendar. The case is magnificently enamelled with the coats of arms of both a Duke and a Vicomte, each quartering of the arms is within a gold cloison further adding to the superb finish of the watch. The case and dial are fully signed and the watch exibits two features of classic Louis Audemars watches : the repeat-slide with indentation and the lever fork with ?Bishop?s crook? counterpoise. This watch is well documented in the archives of Louis Audemars and the extracts can be obtained at the buyers expense if desired