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拍品专文
According to the Archives of Audemars Piguet, the present watch was sold in 1999 in Great Britain. It is no. 4 of the limited edition of the John Shaeffer Minute Repeating Star Wheel model produced between 1995 and 1999, comprising a total of 17 examples instead of the originally planned 25: 7 in pink gold, including the present watch, 3 in yellow gold and 7 in platinum (see Audemars Piguet 20th Century Complicated Wristwatches, Appendix 2, Exhaustive and Illustrated List of Models Equipped with Chiming Function, 1992 – 2002, pp. 292 & 300).
Audemars Piguet manufactured their first minute repeating wristwatch in 1907 for the renowned American industrialist John Schaeffer. This customised pioneer version was housed in a cushion-shaped case, the numerals on the dial were personalised with the letters of his name instead of numerals. In the early 1990s, Audemars Piguet launched the “John Shaeffer” limited edition series, paying tribute to the original “coussin tortue” or “cushion turtle” design.
The “Star Wheel” system was invented by the firm at the same period, including different variations of “wandering hour” wristwatches. Three transparent sapphire disks, or star wheels, each inscribed with four hour indicators are attached to a rotating centre wheel. As the assembly turns, the indicator for the actual hour is rotated into view and then passed across a 120-degree minutes sector. The time is read by noting the visible hour pointing to the current minute. Each disk is obscured until it rises into the arc where the background contrasts the digits into legibility.
The John Shaeffer Collection including the minute repeating Star Wheel model 25881 in pink gold is illustrated and described in Audemars Piguet Collector Book, Miniature Chiming Watches 1882-2002, p. 72. The pink gold John Shaeffer minute repeating Star Wheel wristwatch no. 404’206, property of the Audemars Piguet Private Museum, is furthermore illustrated in Audemars Piguet Master Watchmaker since 1875, Flammarion, p. 144.
Audemars Piguet manufactured their first minute repeating wristwatch in 1907 for the renowned American industrialist John Schaeffer. This customised pioneer version was housed in a cushion-shaped case, the numerals on the dial were personalised with the letters of his name instead of numerals. In the early 1990s, Audemars Piguet launched the “John Shaeffer” limited edition series, paying tribute to the original “coussin tortue” or “cushion turtle” design.
The “Star Wheel” system was invented by the firm at the same period, including different variations of “wandering hour” wristwatches. Three transparent sapphire disks, or star wheels, each inscribed with four hour indicators are attached to a rotating centre wheel. As the assembly turns, the indicator for the actual hour is rotated into view and then passed across a 120-degree minutes sector. The time is read by noting the visible hour pointing to the current minute. Each disk is obscured until it rises into the arc where the background contrasts the digits into legibility.
The John Shaeffer Collection including the minute repeating Star Wheel model 25881 in pink gold is illustrated and described in Audemars Piguet Collector Book, Miniature Chiming Watches 1882-2002, p. 72. The pink gold John Shaeffer minute repeating Star Wheel wristwatch no. 404’206, property of the Audemars Piguet Private Museum, is furthermore illustrated in Audemars Piguet Master Watchmaker since 1875, Flammarion, p. 144.