Lot 2818* ♣ - A205 Wristwatches & Pocketwatches - Wednesday, 21. June 2023, 11.00 AM
Audemars Piguet, extremely rare chronograph "Concours International Le Brassus", 1961.
Reference No.: 5518 ST
Case No.: 49682 Three-piece case with pressed back, engraved: "Concours International Le Brassus", crown and pushers in red gold
Dial: Silvered dial with blue tachymeter scale, red-gold hour and minute hands, blued chronograph hands, minute counter at 3h, small second at 9h
Movement: Fine manual-winding chronograph movement No. 49682 with screw balance and Breguet hairspring, 21 rubies
Band: Crocodile leather band with a stainless steel tang buckle
Accessories: copy of the Audemars Piguet extract from the archives in which this chronograph was registered on January 15, 1961. Copy of the extract from the AP Complications Book
Early Audemars Piguet chronographs are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors. A total of only 307 chronographs were made by AP in the period 1930 - 1962, almost exclusively in yellow gold. Only from 1980 onwards, there were again modern chronographs produced in Le Brassus.
According to the extract from the AP complications book, only 9 pieces of the reference on offer were made: The first one in yellow gold was delivered to the USA in 1951. The remaining 8 pieces in steel were presented by Audemars Piguet to the winners of the International Cross-Country Skiing Competitions - Nordic Ski in Le Brassus between 1957 and 1962. To our knowledge, only one watch of this model has ever been offered at an auction, i.e. in 2019.
This chronograph impresses not only by its extreme rarity, but also by its original preservation. The dial has a beautiful age appropriate patina. The steel case is in exceptionally good condition and shows no signs of polishing - all edges, contours and surfaces are beautifully preserved. The engraving and case number of AP on the caseback are clearly legible.
CHF 50 000 / 100 000 | (€ 51 550 / 103 090)
Sold for CHF 104 000 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.