EXTREMELY RARE WWI AMERICAN WALTHAM ARTDECO CUSHION GENTS WRISTWATCH (SOLD)

MADE IN: USA

CIRCA: 1900

MODEL: ARTDECO CUSHION CASE PORCELAIN

CRYSTAL: ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT: AMERICAN WALTHAM  7JEWELS MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT

DIAL COLOR: PORCELAIN WHITE - VERY MINT NO CRACK NOR SCRATCHES

FUNCTION: HOUR, MINUTE AND SUB SECOND AT 6:00

HANDS: BLUE METAL

MARKERS: RAISED BLACK ARABIC AND  RED 60 minutes markers

CASING : SOLID NICKLE CASING

HINGING LUGS: 18mm

MEASUREMENT: 34mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 37mm LUG TO LUG

BACK CASE ENGRAVING: -NONE

CROWN: ORIGINAL WALTHAM GP CROWN

STRAP/TALI: NEW GENUINE BROWN LEATHER STRAP

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

EXCELLENT CONDITION, WORKING, KEEPING TIME FOR THIS CENTURY OLD EXTREMELY RARE DISCONTINUED MODEL AND VERY HARD TO FIND

PRICE/HARGA: RM1,250.00 (SOLD TO CHEW FROM MALACCA)

BRIEF HISTORY OF WALTHAM WATCHES

American Waltham Watch Company, founded in 1850, were one of the largest watch makers of the 19th Century. The company was founded on a relationship between three men, in Massachusetts USA.
Mr David Davis, a Mr Dension and a Mr Howard. It was based on a dream that they could produce watches that were of good quality, yet were not made from some of the more expensive materials usually found on watches of the era.

By 1851, the trio had there own production house, and the name 'American Horology Company' was adopted.

In 1852 the company had renamed themselves and watches were being produced with the signature 'The Warran Mfg. Co.' after a Revolutionary War Hero.
Watches 1 - 17, the first from the production line, were not placed on the market but were instead given to the company officials, and executives.
From then on the company went through a number of name changes, with watches #18 - 110 being engraved with "Warren Boston", the next 800 were marked "Samuel Curtis" (The Main Financial Backer of the Company) and a few were marked "Fellows and Schel" and were sold for $40.

In September 1853 the name was changed yet again to 'Boston Watch Company' an d a factory was erected in Waltham, Massachusetts in October 1854. The movements produced at this building are marked #1,001 to #5,000 and were marked with the engraving of "Dennison, Howard & Davis,", "C.T.Parker", and "P.S. Bartlett".
Times were hard and the Boston Watch Company failed in 1857, and was subsequently sold at Auction to Royal E Robbins.

In May 1857, the company was shuffled and became "Appleton, Tracey & Co.", and the watches produced in this time carried the serial numbers between, 5,001 and 14,000 ,model 1857. The C.T.Parker movement was re-introduced as Model 1857 and was sold for $12, 399 were made. In 1855 brass watches were being sold for $1. Also at this time 598 chronometers were made, and by January 1858 the P.S.Bartlet watch was made.

In January 1859, the Waltham Improvement Company and Appleton, Tracey & Co. merged to form The American watch Company.

Also an interesting fact is that, according to the biography by Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln himself carried an American Waltham wrist watch, the 'William Ellory' Model, produced by Waltham, in 1863 and was an 18 size, 1859 ¾ plate model with steel balance.

The Waltham name is synonymous with quality and craftmanship, and remain to this day, very desirable timpieces and some of the Waltham finest watches were made in Le Locke, Switzerland.

This is a peculiar Waltham watch from the 60s, during the height of the “jewel war” Another interesting sight to note is the swiss movement, which was identical to those used in many early Blancpain Bathyscaphe watches. It was know that after the closure of Waltham manufacturing facilities in US in the early 60s, it imported and marketed Swiss watches in US, including the some of the famous divewatches made by Blancpain and LIPS.

Company Name History:

Approximate Date	Company Name
1850, September	Howard, Davis and Dennison, Roxbury Mass
1851 (for 6 months.)	American Horology Co., Roxbury Mass.
1851-1853	The Warren Mfg. Co., Roxbury Mass.
1853 (Sept) - 1857 (May)	Boston Watch Co., Roxbury Mass & Waltham Mass.
1857	Tracy Baker & Co., Waltham Mass.
1857-1859	Appleton Tracy and Co., Waltham Mass.
1859-1885	American Watch Co., Waltham Mass.
1885-1923	American Waltham Watch Co., Waltham Mass.
1923-1957	Waltham Watch Co., Waltham Mass.

AUTHENTIC VINTAGE SWISS MADE CRONEL DIVER GENTS WRISTWATC

BRAND/JENAMA: VINTAGE CRONEL DIVER GENTS WRISTWATCH

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1960's

MODEL: DIVER

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: VERY CLEAN ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: SWISS 23 JEWELS MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT

HANDS/JARUM: LUMINOUS SILVER TONE HAND 

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: LUMINOUS BATON MARKER

CASING : STAINLESS STEEL BACK/BASE METAL TOP

BEZEL: BLACK WITH WHITE MARKER INSERT

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 38mm DIAMETER AND 43mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: -

CROWN: STAINLESS STEEL UNSIGNED

STRAP/TALI: NEW OLD STOCK TROPIK STYLE RUBBER BAND

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

DISCONTINUED MODEL... VERY VERY RARE AND VERY HARD TO FIND!

EXCELLENT CONDITION AND KEEPING TIME 

PRICE/HARGA: RM400 (NEGOTIABLE)

There is not much information or history aout Cronel Watch brand. The Cronel wristwatch was produced by Camy Watch Co. Ltd., STROUN FRERES S.A. Geneve.

AUTHENTIC VINTAGE WALTHAM PORCELAIN TRANSITIONAL MILITARY WATCH (SOLD)

MADE IN/BUATAN: USA

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1900

MODEL: MILITARY~ ART DECO

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: HIGH GRADE WALTHAM 15 JEWELS MANUAL MOUVEMENT

DIAL COLOR: CREAM PORCELAIN DIAL/PORSELIN MILITARI - IN MINT CONDITION

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: HOUR, MINUTE AND SECOND SUBDIAL AT 6:00, LEVER FOR CHANGING TIME AT 6:00

HANDS/JARUM: BLUE METAL

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: ROMAN BLACK/ RED 60 COUNTER MILITARY MARKER

CASING : BASE METAL TOP/STAINLESS STEEL BACK

HINGING LUGS: 18mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 36mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 37mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: -

CROWN: SILVER

STRAP/TALI: NEW GENUINE BROWN LEATHER STRAP

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

EXCELLENT CONDITION, WORKING, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL & VERY RARE AND VERY HARD TO FIND

PRICE/HARGA: SOLD TO HAKIM ALMASIRI KAJANG

BRIEF HISTORY OF WALTHAM WATCHES

American Waltham Watch Company, founded in 1850, were one of the largest watch makers of the 19th Century. The company was founded on a relationship between three men, in Massachusetts USA.
Mr David Davis, a Mr Dension and a Mr Howard. It was based on a dream that they could produce watches that were of good quality, yet were not made from some of the more expensive materials usually found on watches of the era.

By 1851, the trio had there own production house, and the name 'American Horology Company' was adopted.

In 1852 the company had renamed themselves and watches were being produced with the signature 'The Warran Mfg. Co.' after a Revolutionary War Hero.
Watches 1 - 17, the first from the production line, were not placed on the market but were instead given to the company officials, and executives.
From then on the company went through a number of name changes, with watches #18 - 110 being engraved with "Warren Boston", the next 800 were marked "Samuel Curtis" (The Main Financial Backer of the Company) and a few were marked "Fellows and Schel" and were sold for $40.

In September 1853 the name was changed yet again to 'Boston Watch Company' an d a factory was erected in Waltham, Massachusetts in October 1854. The movements produced at this building are marked #1,001 to #5,000 and were marked with the engraving of "Dennison, Howard & Davis,", "C.T.Parker", and "P.S. Bartlett".
Times were hard and the Boston Watch Company failed in 1857, and was subsequently sold at Auction to Royal E Robbins.

In May 1857, the company was shuffled and became "Appleton, Tracey & Co.", and the watches produced in this time carried the serial numbers between, 5,001 and 14,000 ,model 1857. The C.T.Parker movement was re-introduced as Model 1857 and was sold for $12, 399 were made. In 1855 brass watches were being sold for $1. Also at this time 598 chronometers were made, and by January 1858 the P.S.Bartlet watch was made.

In January 1859, the Waltham Improvement Company and Appleton, Tracey & Co. merged to form The American watch Company.

Also an interesting fact is that, according to the biography by Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln himself carried an American Waltham wrist watch, the 'William Ellory' Model, produced by Waltham, in 1863 and was an 18 size, 1859 ¾ plate model with steel balance.

The Waltham name is synonymous with quality and craftmanship, and remain to this day, very desirable timpieces and some of the Waltham finest watches were made in Le Locke, Switzerland.

This is a peculiar Waltham watch from the 60s, during the height of the “jewel war” Another interesting sight to note is the swiss movement, which was identical to those used in many early Blancpain Bathyscaphe watches. It was know that after the closure of Waltham manufacturing facilities in US in the early 60s, it imported and marketed Swiss watches in US, including the some of the famous divewatches made by Blancpain and LIPS.

Company Name History:

Approximate Date	Company Name
1850, September	Howard, Davis and Dennison, Roxbury Mass
1851 (for 6 months.)	American Horology Co., Roxbury Mass.
1851-1853	The Warren Mfg. Co., Roxbury Mass.
1853 (Sept) - 1857 (May)	Boston Watch Co., Roxbury Mass & Waltham Mass.
1857	Tracy Baker & Co., Waltham Mass.
1857-1859	Appleton Tracy and Co., Waltham Mass.
1859-1885	American Watch Co., Waltham Mass.
1885-1923	American Waltham Watch Co., Waltham Mass.
1923-1957	Waltham Watch Co., Waltham Mass.

RARE COLLECTION - AUTHENTIC VINTAGE PATEK PHILIPPE GENTS WRISTWATCH (SOLD)

HIGHLY COLLECTABLE AND HARD TO FIND PATEK PHILIPPE GENTS WRISTWATCH - DRESS WATCH FOR GENTS CIRCA 1900'S

WHITE PORCELAIN DIAL

CRYSTAL IS CLEAN WITH NO CRACK OR SCRATCHES

EXTHIBITION CASE BACK

SOLID STAINLESS STEEL RE-CASED

EXTREMELY GORGEOUS COSMETICALLY (SEE PHOTOS)

THE 18 JEWELS WOLF TEETH PATEK PHILIPPE MANUAL MOVEMENT S/N 80,772 made for Shreve, Crump & Low Co

BLACK METAL HANDS

BLACK ARABIC MARKER

CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 36mm EXCLUDING THE CROWN/PUSHERS AND 43mm LUG TO LUG

DISCONTINUED MODEL... VERY VERY RARE!

EXCELLENT CONDITION AND KEEPING TIME.

This is my personal collection but willing to be parted for a PRICE of RM12,500.00 (SOLD TO SYLVIA FROM NEW JERSEY, USA)

HISTORY OF PATEK PHILIPPE WATCHES

Antoni Norbert de Patek was a brave and intelligent soldier who took part of the Polish rebellion against Russian domination in 1830. After that, Patek among other people were forced to leave Poland and it was in 1833 when this man settled down in Switzerland.

By this moment Patek started developing his artistic abilities and he began studying with the well known landscape artist, Alexandre Calame. Together with his passion for the art Patek bought his first watch movements and then sold completed watches to Polish clients. Soon he became a businessman buying and selling watches to an influential Polish clientele. Due to the growth on this business, he thought about performing his own watches company considering the possibility of having a partner and he chooses his friend Franciszek Czapek.

In 1839 Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek settled down a company named "Patek and Czapek". At the beginning the company had no employees so they purchased movements from various companies specialized in the manufacturing of raw movements (ebauches), sent them to a case maker to be cased, and then finished them in their shop.

But in 1844 Patek met the young French inventor of the keyless winding mechanism; Adrien Philippe and he decided to start a new partnership leaving aside Franciszek Czapek. That was not an easy issue. Replacing Franciszek Czapek could mean loosing the current clientele and being in risk of bankruptcy. However, he made the decision. In 1845 Philippe became the head watchmaker and together with Vincent Gostkowski, Philippe and Patek signed an agreement. One of the clauses of the agreement stated that Patek was in charge of the general direction of the firm and for its marketing, Gostkowski of the accounting and correspondence, and Philippe responsible for the watchmaking. Patek was the only person entitled to make executive company decisions despite of the fact that Gostkowski and Philippe each received one third of the company's profits. During these years the company bought unfinished movements from several companies, including Louis Audemars, Vacheron & Constantin, Breguet, Doloche, Dupan et Haim, Piguet et Fils, Le Coultre, among others for Patek & Cie, but they did not produce its own movements. Patek, being afraid Czapek would create a rival company, took his cautions in replacing Czapek in the partnership. But it was not enough because Czapek not only established a new company but also he made Patek`s clientele leave him. Soon Czapek`s company became a serious competition as well as Patek`s new partnership with Philippe started to succeed. Philippe introduced in 1850 the first ebauches distinct movements thanks to the machinery Philippe acquired for the company. The first ones were stamped with "PP" on the dial plate. After that, an important event would change Patek`s fortune. Queen Victoria was going to buy to Patek & Co. a small lady's watch, about 30 mm. in diameter, which needed no key for win-ding or setting. This dated from 1857 when Queen Victoria attended the Universal Exhibition in London. And also did Prince Albert. With this immediately, Patek`s company gained prestige. Later, the company`s name changes to Patek Philippe & Cie. One by one, Patek`s financial problems began to disappear and he introduced his products on several markets such as Russia and also he supplied Rodanet of Paris, Peta in Madrid, Elimayer in Leipzig.

After world was divided into 24 time zones in 1870, most watchmakers tried to develop a device which would indicate the time in at least two different cities in the world. Later, Louis Cottier, an independent Genevan watchmaker created an ingenious universal time display mechanism that allowed watches to simultaneously indicate the local time in several cities. Cottier also created several series of universal time watches for Patek Philippe.

Patek Philippe constitutes one of the first watchmaking firms to enjoy business relations with the United States, signing an exclusive agreement with Tiffany & Co. New York. The firm is known in Latin America when business relations began with distributors Gondolo & Labouriau, in Rio de Janeiro.

Wearing a watch around the wrist was catching on, so watchmakers began challenging the integration of various complications into their new timepieces. Patek Philippe`s introduced his first perpetual calendar wristwatch in 1925. Apart from that, to indicate the day, date and month, considering the number of days of each month (29, 30, 31) and also the 29th of February in leap years, Patek Philippe`s displays the ages and phases of the moon. Patek Philippe`s general production introduced the first bracelet chronographs with or without a split-second mechanism and wristwatches with minute repeating.

The economic crisis of 1929 made the production to slow down throughout the 1930`s.

Although the economic problems, Patek Philippe`s continued developing its creativity and produced remarkable timepieces such as the "Calatrava" with triple date and perpetual calendar (with aperture), age and phases of the moon and minute repeating. This watch, the most complicated of its time, was encased in a new design named "Calatrava".

The name Calatrava has historical origins that are dated from the middle-ages when a Spanish religious order defended the Calatrava citadel against the moors. At the end of the nineteenth century, Patek Philippe adopted the emblem of the brave Spanish knights as its brand symbol, which signs Patek Philippe watches today.

In 1932 the company was bought by two brothers: Charles and Jean Stern and since then the company became a family company; Mr. Philippe Stern, President and Mr. Thierry Stern, his son, Vice-President.

In 1976 Patek Philippe introduced the Nautilus sports watch collection and in 1993 the Gondolo collection.

The beautiful Patek Twenty ladies watch was launched in 1999 and it is a modern interpretation of the Gondolo timepiece

PREVIEW - VERY VERY RARE! AUTHENTIC VINTAGE AUDEMAR PIGUET LARGE GENTS WRISTWATCH

VERY VERY RARE LIMITED EDITION AUTHENTIC VINTAGE AUDEMARS PIGUET WRISTWATCH

SHINNING SILVER TONE SUNBURST DIAL WITH SUB-SECOND AT 9:00

LIMITED EDITION~ SPEVCIALLY MADE FOR BOHM-ALLEN & CO., COLORADO, DENVER, USA

CRYSTAL IS CLEAN WITH NO CRACK

THE HIGH QUALITY 17 JEWEL AUDEMARS PIGUET MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT~S/N 126946 CIRCA 1908

SOLID BLUE METAL DAPHNE HANDS

BLACK MILITARY ARABIC MARKER

LARGE SOLID STAINLESS STEEL CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 47mm EXCLUDING THE CROWN AND 55mm LUG TO LUG

UNSIGNED STAINLESS STEEL BIG CROWN

NEW GENUINE BROWN LEATHER BAND FITS 8.5" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... VERY VERY RARE ONLY FEW WATCHES AROUND THE WORLD!

EXCELLENT MINT CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PRICE: PERSONAL COLLECTION/KOLEKSI PERIBADI ~ WILLING TO LET GO FOR REASONABLE ASKING PRICE /SANGGUP DIJUAL JIKA HARGA HENDFAK DIBELI MUNASABAH (NEGOTIABLE/BOLEH DIRUNDING). MARKET VALUE IS MORE THAN RM10,000 (PLEASE REFER TO COMPLETE PRICE GUIDE TO WATCHES BOOK 2006)

BRIEF HISTORY OF AUDEMAR PIGUET WATCHES

The Audemars Piguet story begins in 1875 when twenty three year old watchmaker Jules Audemars and future partner Edward-August Piguet, just twenty-one years of age, met in the Vallee de Joux. Both had learned the watchmaker's trade after finishing public school in their hometown of Le Brassus by training at the bench and returned to the Vallee de Joux to find jobs in the local watchmaking industry. Jules Audemars was soon producing raw components for watch movements, while Edward-August Piguet sought employment as a "repasseur" (a master watchmaker who performs the final regulation on a watch). Shortly after their meeting in 1875, the two talented watchmakers decided to join forces and founded the firm that would someday come to be known as Audemars, Piguet et Cie.

Almost from the beginning, Audemars was in charge of production and the technical side, while his partner Piguet focused on sales. Their partnership was not an immediate success, however. In fact, the Audemars Piguet trademark was not even registered until 1882 and the firm's "official founding" did not take place until 1889. Already, however, Audemars Piguet et Cie had become the third largest employer for watch manufacturing in the Canton of Vaud. More importantly perhaps, both men had deliberately shifted their focus towards the production of high-quality, complex, ultra-precise watches.

Shortly after the official founding in 1889, a branch office was built in Geneva and the partners decided to produce all of their components and assemble the finished watches in-house. This allowed the firm to maintain strict quality control over their products and as a result, only products of the highest quality left the workshop. In short order, the greatest, most renowned retail jewelers were ordering watches from Le Brassus. Today, one can find many Audemars Piguet pocket watches identifiable as an Audemars Piguet only by their serial number, the result of prestigious jewelers, such as Gubelin and Tiffany & Co., wanting only their own name engraved on the movement and case, and not that of Audemars Piguet.

It is interesting to note that between 1894 and 1899, a mere 1,208 watches were produced. Among these were some of the most sophisticated timepieces ever made, including the legendary "Grande Complication" series, which is still being produced today. Aside from normal time indication, a Grande Complication timepiece offers minute repetition, perpetual calendar, and chronograph.

At around this same time, the retail operations in Geneva and London were transformed into full-service branches where watches were not only serviced but also assembled. By 1914, Audemars Piguet launched a project to develop a watch so complicated that it would take six years of continuous production before the watch could be delivered to the importers Guignard & Golay in London.

The watch in question was a pocket watch with two dials and a one-minute tourbillon mechanism. As well as a tourbillon, this double dial Lepine, gold watch included a minute repeater, a chronograph with 60-minute and 12-hour counters, perpetual calendar with displays which "jump" at midnight, display of the leap year cycle, the "age" and phases of the moon, and power reserve display. The second face showed an additional 24 hours based on the sidereal hour, moving a pair of independent hands. A special system connected to this gear-train makes it possible to see the changes in the London sky at any time of the day or night, through an oval-shaped opening in the rear dial. The sky is represented by 315 stars engraved on a plate of gold, enameled in blue. The stars, with their respective names, are all clearly visible.

Unfortunately, it was the last triumph for the founding partners. Audemars died in 1918. The following year, so did Edward Piguet.

After the founders' death, Audemars Piguet continued to prosper, establishing several technical milestones with the creation of the world's smallest minute repeater watch, having a diameter of just 15.8 millimeters; the debut of a Hunter Model (hinged-lid pocket watch) with a jumping second hand, also featuring a barometer, quarter repeater, independent second hand, the date and day of the week; and in 1925, another first: the world's thinnest pocket watch measuring just 1.32 millimeters. The year 1928 also saw the development of the world's first skeletonized pocketwatch.

Needless to say, then as now, Audemars Piguet was considered one of the finest watch manufacturers in the world. Business boomed, as did the world economy. Customers of Audemars Piguet included such prestigious jewelers as Gubelin, Tiffany & Co., Cartier and Bulgari. Unfortunately, the company's success ground to a shocking halt in 1929 when only 737 watches were sold. By contrast, nearly 2,000 watches had been sold in 1920. With the stock market crash in 1929 and the subsequent Depression, there were suddenly very few customers for expensive watches. Like other Swiss watch companies, Audemars Piguet was forced to layoff most of its workforce, until hitting rock bottom in 1932, when just two watches were produced.

Despite the hard times, the company bounced back following World War II, thanks to the success of its chronographs and ultra-thin (the famous nine-ligne calibre 2003) dress watches.

The 1950's and 1960's saw a major rebound in the firm's sales. In 1967, in cooperation with Jaeger LeCoultre, a new record for the thinnest (2.45 mm) automatic movement, with a centrally placed rotor of 21-carat gold, was established. Just three years later, in 1970, the watchmakers of Audemars Piguet premiered the world's thinnest movement (3.05 mm) to include date display and a central rotor made of gold. The year 1972, of course, marked the debut of what has become the signature model for Audemars Piguet, the "Royal Oak".

Designed by the legendary watchmaker Gerald Genta, its octagonal shape, steel edges and the use of prominent hexagonal screws as a design feature strike a perfect balance between power and elegance. Worthy of its name, the Royal Oak has since become a legend. Its octagonal design, originally produced only in high-grade steel, took the breath away even of many professionals. However, when the Royal Oak was unveiled at the 1972 European watchmaking fair in Basel with a price tag of just 3,300 SFr. -- unheard of for a watch bearing the Audemars Piguet name -- its success was beyond even its creators' expectations!

In 1993, the company museum, housed in the original workshop of Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet, was established. This museum, a tribute to the company's visionary founders, allows watch enthusiasts to discover Audemars Piguet technology "from A to Z." Its exhibits retrace the key stages in the company's history, and show many of the creations that made Audemars Piguet famous, including the Grande Complication. As well as its unique collection of antique watches, and in particular of watch complications, this very unusual museum enables visitors to see the intricacy and precision required in horology, by observing two master watchmakers at work in the modern Audemars Piguet atelier which is a permanent feature of the museum.

That same year, a new model in the Royal Oak collection premiered: the Royal Oak Offshore, which is water resistant to a depth of 10 atmospheres. The Offshore model offers following functions: chronograph to 1/5 second, tachymeter, 30-minute counter, 12-hour counter, date display, seconds display, automatic movement with central rotor in 21-carat gold.

Three years later, in 1996, a wristwatch version of the famous "Grand Complication" premiered at Basel. More than 600 components are contained in an integrated movement that does not exceed 8.5 mm in height. It is a technical marvel that marries old-fashioned craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, such as computer-aided design (CAD). It was also in 1996 that Audemars Piguet embarked on a new era, becoming one of the first major watch companies to represent itself on the Internet with its official Web site.

Today, Audemars Piguet remains one of the most prestigious watchmakers in the world -- yet despite the company's enormous success (AP even owns 40% of Jaeger-LeCoultre), every watch is still made by hand the old-fashioned way - one at a time. Today, along with Patek Philippe (PP) and Vacheron Constantin (VC), AP is considered to be one of the "big-three" as one of the finest watches in the world.