68 Audemars Piguet A fine and classy, Mini Ellipse, manual wristwatch in yellow gold, with lapis lazuli dial retailed by Bulgari.
Estimate: € 10.000 – 20.000
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- Model Mini Ellipse
- Year Circa 1970s
- Case Material 18K yellow gold
- Case Number 63'419
- Bracelet Material 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet bracelet, approximate length 170mm
- Movement Manual, K2050/B, 20 jewels
- Movement Number 117'860
- Dimension 18mm width x 18mm length
- Signed Case, dial and movement
During the 1960s and 1970s, the Manufacture excelled in an entirely different field: that of the ultra-thin and precious dress watch, often created in collaboration with some of the world’s most prestigious jewellery houses, which would frequently market these timepieces under a double signature — a practice that was common at the time. Among Audemars Piguet’s privileged partners for such creations was the renowned Italian jeweller Bulgari. The present example beautifully illustrates this collaboration. Its 18K yellow-gold cushion-shaped case, featuring finely textured sides and an integrated bracelet, bears the hallmark of Jean-Pierre Ecoffey. The case houses a natural lapis lazuli dial, whose intense blue hue and delicate golden pyrite inclusions ensure that each dial possesses its own unique character. Deliberately devoid of superfluous hour markers, the dial places full emphasis on the double signature “Audemars Piguet Genève” and “Bulgari”, accompanied by the designation “Swiss” at 6 o’clock — a particularly evocative configuration emblematic of the exceptional collaborations between Swiss watchmakers and Italian jewellers during this period. The sapphire cabochon-set crown, together with the simple yellow-gold hands, completes a composition of decidedly minimalist elegance. Discreet, precious and rare, standing at the crossroads of two exceptional crafts, the present double-signed example will appeal to discerning collectors with an appreciation for the rarity and historical significance of these remarkable collaborations.
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GENEVA
Eternity Gallery Geneva, 19 Place de Longemalle
HONG KONG
Opera Gallery Hong Kong, 1 Duddell Street, Unit 01, 11/F, Central
MILANO
Portrait Milano Hotel, Corso Venezia, 11
BOLOGNA
Time on Show Bologna, Viale della Fiera, 20