Audemars Piguet Makes History with Record-Breaking Watch Sale at Sotheby's
In a stunning achievement, Audemars Piguet's "Grosse Pièce" pocket watch has shattered all records for the legendary watchmaker, selling for $7.7 million with fees, exceeding its initial estimate of $1 million and cementing its place as one of the most valuable timepieces ever sold at auction.
Commissioned in 1914 by Smith & Sons of London for an American client and completed six years later, "Grosse Pièce" is a masterclass in horology. Featuring an astronomical star chart depicting 18 constellations, this pocket watch is not only a marvel of innovation but also the sole Audemars Piguet timepiece to incorporate a tourbillon, solidifying its status as a peerless achievement in the history of horlogerie.
The sale, which took place on December 8 at Sotheby's inaugural Important Watches auction at the iconic Breuer Building, achieved an impressive $42.8 million, more than doubling its initial estimate and setting a new record for watch auctions in the house's history.
According to Daryn Schnipper, Sotheby's chairman emeritus, international watch division, "The record-breaking result achieved by Audemars Piguet's 'Grosse Pièce' is nothing short of extraordinary... It stands as a powerful reminder of the significance of this collection and the extraordinary heights that important horology can reach."
As part of the sale, the buyer will receive an album assembled by Martin Werhli, the former director of the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, featuring photocopies of the watch's workbook records, including a copy of the Audemars Piguet Registre d’Établissage listing the movement number and components.
The "Grosse Pièce" sale follows in the footsteps of other record-breaking sales, including Francis Ford Coppola's F.P. Journe FFC prototype, which achieved $10.75 million earlier this week at Phillips' $43.5 million The New York Watch Auction: XIII – the highest-grossing watch auction ever held in the United States.
With its unparalleled combination of innovation and craftsmanship, "Grosse Pièce" is a testament to Audemars Piguet's commitment to excellence and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in horology.
In a stunning achievement, Audemars Piguet's "Grosse Pièce" pocket watch has shattered all records for the legendary watchmaker, selling for $7.7 million with fees, exceeding its initial estimate of $1 million and cementing its place as one of the most valuable timepieces ever sold at auction.
Commissioned in 1914 by Smith & Sons of London for an American client and completed six years later, "Grosse Pièce" is a masterclass in horology. Featuring an astronomical star chart depicting 18 constellations, this pocket watch is not only a marvel of innovation but also the sole Audemars Piguet timepiece to incorporate a tourbillon, solidifying its status as a peerless achievement in the history of horlogerie.
The sale, which took place on December 8 at Sotheby's inaugural Important Watches auction at the iconic Breuer Building, achieved an impressive $42.8 million, more than doubling its initial estimate and setting a new record for watch auctions in the house's history.
According to Daryn Schnipper, Sotheby's chairman emeritus, international watch division, "The record-breaking result achieved by Audemars Piguet's 'Grosse Pièce' is nothing short of extraordinary... It stands as a powerful reminder of the significance of this collection and the extraordinary heights that important horology can reach."
As part of the sale, the buyer will receive an album assembled by Martin Werhli, the former director of the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, featuring photocopies of the watch's workbook records, including a copy of the Audemars Piguet Registre d’Établissage listing the movement number and components.
The "Grosse Pièce" sale follows in the footsteps of other record-breaking sales, including Francis Ford Coppola's F.P. Journe FFC prototype, which achieved $10.75 million earlier this week at Phillips' $43.5 million The New York Watch Auction: XIII – the highest-grossing watch auction ever held in the United States.
With its unparalleled combination of innovation and craftsmanship, "Grosse Pièce" is a testament to Audemars Piguet's commitment to excellence and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in horology.
, can you even believe this?! $42.8 million for one watch?! That's insane 
! I mean, it's not just about the money, it's about the history, the craftsmanship, and the innovation that went into creating something so unique 
. The astronomical star chart is literally a work of art 
. And to think that this watch has been lying in wait for all these years, just waiting for someone to come along and appreciate its greatness 
. I'm seriously considering getting my hands on one (just kidding... or am I 
). Seriously though, it's amazing to see how far the world of watches has come 
. Long live Audemars Piguet 
!
I've seen some crazy prices at auction before, but this one takes the cake 
the fact that it doubled the estimate is wild 
Audemars Piguet really outdid themselves with "Grosse Pièce". That astronomical star chart is straight fire 
and the tourbillon is just insane 
. I'm loving the album that comes with it, too - can you even imagine the craftsmanship that went into creating this masterpiece? 
. It's clear that Audemars Piguet's commitment to excellence is still going strong, even after all these years 
seriously though, audemars piguet must be so proud of their 'grosse piece' masterpiece 
it's like they took all the leftover parts from previous projects and just mashed them together... genius or what? 
. I guess when you're dealing with masterpieces of horology, they can command some serious cash 
This record-breaking sale just goes to show how big business can shape our economy, folks! Think about it - we're talking about a single watch selling for over $40 million, which is basically enough money to buy a small island 
. It's like the 1% owning 90% of the wealth gap all over again. I mean, what's next? A $50 million sale for a pair of shoes? 
This just highlights how some people have more influence and power than others when it comes to spending money on luxury goods.
anyway, I'm kinda jealous that someone else gets to own this thing 
and all the extra goodies that come with it 
audemars piguet has done it again with this record-breaking sale at sotheby's... that tourbillon is literally mind-blowing 
can't wait to see more incredible sales like this in the future