Audemars Piguet
Star Wheel | A pink gold open faced semi-skeletonized wristwatch with satellite hour display, Circa 1995
Auction Closed
December 7, 07:12 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: semi-skeletonized, white minute scale, pink gold engraved chapter ring, central rhodium plated wheel with three arms carrying three rotating sapphire discs for hours and minutes indication
Caliber: cal. 5020 mechanical, 20 jewels
Movement number: 366’941
Case: 18k pink gold, snap on sapphire display back
Case number: D46’645
Size: 48 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: no
Accessories: Audemars Piguet presentation box with outer packaging
Audemars Piguet revived the wandering hour complication in the late 80’s with the resurgence of classical mechanical watchmaking. The atelier’s dedicated watchmakers were inspired by an old article from the Journal Suisse d’Horlogerie and 18 months of R&D later, the Star Wheel Reference 25720 was launched in 1991. Three transparent discs, or so-called star wheels, are each inscribed with four hour indicators and attached to a rotating center wheel. As the assembly turns, the current hour indicator is rotated into view and then passed across a 120-degree minute sector. The time is read by noting the visible hour pointing to the current minute. The star wheel invention inspired other watch manufacturers to create similar pieces, such as the Harry Winston Opus V or the Urwerk 103.03.
The present lot is a wonderful opportunity to acquire the complication as a pocket watch, as Audemars Piguet made the majority of this collection as wristwatches.