Audemars Piguet Mercedes Themed Vintage Watch

Key Points from the Discussion

• The Mercedes-themed watch is part of a series of Audemars Piguet timepieces featuring various classic cars, including a Rolls Royce Phantom II, Ferrari 315 S, and Le Mans Ferrari 330 P4.
• These special dials were hand-engraved in gold by Olivier Vaucher, a renowned artisan who also worked for Gübelin and continues to work for Vacheron Constantin.
• The dials were a revelation in the late 1980s, and some rarer examples feature not only an engraved dial but also a gilt, engraved, and skeletonized movement. These unique dials can also be found in Royal Oak models.
• While these pieces were highly coveted by their original owners, tastes have evolved over time. Some collectors, like patrick_y, humorously admit they might prefer owning the actual classic car depicted over the watch itself.
• Another unique custom piece, possibly commemorating a special event, features an Oriental-flair architecture, a woman with late 70s/early 80s hair, and details like strewn shoes and a champagne bottle on the car's roof.
• A different Mercedes version was also created by Antoine Preziuso as part of his 'Hours of Love' series, though images of this particular piece are often deemed too risqué for public sharing.