Rare Audemars Piguet chronograph to be sold at Christie’s

One of the rarest wrist-worn chronographs produced by Audemars Piguet will be up for auction, presented by Christie’s Geneva.

The “Coussin Tortue” model no. 41,849, made circa 1930 by Audemars Piguet for the American market, will come to auction on 11 May in Geneva at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues.

The single-button chronograph was sold in 1935 and remained in the family of its original owner for more than 90 years.

In 1930, Audemars Piguet started the production of six movements for its first chronograph wristwatches. Although three chronographs are recorded, only two are known to have survived.

The remaining three movements of the first batch of six were, according to the Audemars Piguet archives, cased up and sold over a decade later.

The piece has a modernist Art-Deco design, with a bold brushed platinum cushion case and a two-tone grey and white dial.

From 1930 to the early 1980s, Audemars Piguet’s total production of chronograph wristwatches amounted to only 307 examples.

The piece is expected to sell at around $260,000-510,000 / CHF200,000-400,000.