quattro's meticulous post shines a light on a truly distinctive Audemars Piguet model from the 1940s, highlighting its unique design elements. This deep dive into vintage AP offers valuable insights for collectors and enthusiasts interested in the brand's historical design language and technical evolution. quattro's detailed examination of the variants and their specific features makes this a crucial reference for understanding a lesser-known but highly charismatic period in Audemars Piguet's history.
This 1940s Audemars Piguet model features several wonderful details:
- Strong pierced βspiderβ lugs
- Bezel with four vertical prominences or βguardsβ protecting a thick crystal
- A hand-wound 13 ligne βVZβ movement: VZSS (small seconds) or VZSSC (center seconds)
- The examples with an Arabic numerals dial also have a quite unique knurled crown
Let's walk through the different variants.
A/ ROMAN NUMERALS & SMALL SECONDS
The case measures 33 mm (diameter) and 41 mm (lug to lug)
The bezel with its vertical prominences at 3, 6, 9 & 12.
The VZSS movement
credit: Bernhard Bulang aka @bullibeer (1) & The Arrow of Time
Exact same watch (case no. 24637, movement no. 47891 B)
, but photographed differently
The
hallmark with β
RRβ and a
rising sun shows that the
case has been
made by
Parisian case maker,
Raoul Righi.
credit: @galbegallery
B/ ARABIC NUMERALS & SMALL SECONDS This example features a special
knurled crown.
Notice how the
bezel has been placed with the
prominences/
guards at
1:30,
4:30,
7:30 and
10:30.
The special crown
credit: RenovΓ© by Tuloki
C/ ARABIC NUMERALS & CENTER SECONDS This example also features a special
knurled crown. It has been sold by
Christie's in 2022.
The VZSSC movement
credit: @phxwatchnut
I personally like this model a lot.
What about you?
Best, Emmanuel
