Audemars Piguet is the other famous branch, which still continues to thrive on the world’s horological stage. The company Audemars Freres was one of the many branches of Louis Audemars’ watch dynasty.

It still really is a pure technological wonder. The movement dates back to 1880 – 1900 and was ‘high-tech’ for its time. There is a switch lever outside to turn the chimes action off (top) and also one for setting the time (right). Under the dial is a system of springs, levers, racks and cams, which creates the sequence of hammer strikes to gongs. The triple-gongs have three different hammers, each of which have a different sound tone! The movement is wound up by one crown, which is spun both ways: clockwise winds up the running movement, and anticlockwise winds up the chimes. The mechanism has two barrels, one for the movement and one for the gongs. The other rare feature is a triple-gong movement with three hammers, instead of the typical dual-gong – a feature referred to as a carillon. It is not a classic repeater, but an automatic one with self-striking chimes. This movement is very unique, due to a function called the Petite Sonnerie.

However, not only did we want to give it a new case, we also wanted to make this watch as beautiful as possible, to make it an absolute pleasure to behold. The company subsequently ceased business in 1885.Our initial plan for this watch was just to rehouse the movement into a newly made gold case. After his death in 1833, the company was taken over by Audemars’s oldest son and renamed Louis Audemars Fils. NOTE: The Swiss Watch Company Louis Audemars was founded in 1811 by Louis-Benjamin Audemars in Le Brassus. Leather storage case with extensive surface deterioration. CONDITION: Extraordinary and rare watch in structurally very nice condition. Overall case is 1-7/8” not including stem. This watch is accompanied by the original fitted case marked “Societe Anonyme de la Fabrique d’Horlogerie/Louis Audemars/la Chaux-de-Fonds/& Geneve”. The outer case interiors are each marked with the same serial number “153931” and additionally marked “14KT”. The burnished gold dial with Arabic numeral chapter ring with subsidiary seconds dial is located at bottom of face between the numerals 5 & 7 and the dial is also marked “L. Additionally stamped with ten examples of gold medals. The inner case with 14kt gold lid covering the movement, also marked “Louis Audemars Geneve” with six-digit serial number “153931”. The manual stem for hours, minutes with a small subsidiary seconds dial. Beneath the horse is a cartouche with the engraved letters of a previous owner “L.W.E.”. The back of the case is enamel decorated with a horse in the foreground and mountains in the background. This fine example with hunter’s case is finely chassed with foliate decoration and outer case has further enamel decoration depicting a mountainous scene on the front with buildings, lake, mountains and conifers.

Louis audemars serial numbers