Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003

LOT 225

Audemars Freres, "Horlogers de Sa Majesté L'Empereur de Russie par l'ancienne Maison Audemars fondée 1811", Brassus & Geneva, No. 32947, circa 1915. Very fine 18K gold hunting-cased keyless astronomical minute-repeating watch with perpetual calendar, moon calendar, and phases of the moon.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

EUR 20,000 - 27,000 / USD 23,000 - 31,000

Sold: CHF 32,200

C. Five-body, "bassine", engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute track, four subsidiary sunk dials for days of the week, date, months of the four year leap cycle and subsidiary seconds concentric with phases of the moon aperture. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 45 mm. (20'''), rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 29 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, rack and pinion mirometric regulator, lever-set, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band.Signed on dial and case.Diam. 57 mm.

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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3 - 6 - 01

Notes

The title refers to the fact that the company was the successor of Louis Audemars, perhaps the best maker of complicated watches in the second and third quarters of the 19th century. See note to lot 246. For a biography of Louis Audemars, see previous lot.