Audemars Piguet acquires historic timepiece for 6.6 million euros

The Swiss luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet acquired an astronomical pocket watch for a good €6.6 million at the Sotheby's auction "Important Watches featuring Exceptional Discoveries: The Olmsted Complications Collection" on December 8th in New York, known as the "Grosse Pièce" from the house of Audemars Piguet.

The highly complicated pocket watch, commissioned from Audemars Piguet in 1914 and completed in 1921, remained hidden from the public eye until the 1990s. Now, in Audemars Piguet's anniversary year, it returns to the company's headquarters in Le Brassus.

Before that, the „Grosse Pièce“ will go on a multi-year world tour and will be shown in selected AP houses as well as at special events before being exhibited in the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus.

The „Grosse Pièce“ in 18-karat yellow gold is the most comprehensive astronomical clock Audemars Piguet ever created, and one of the first with a star chart. It displays the night sky over London with 315 stars, sidereal time, a perpetual calendar, the phases of the moon, and the equation of time.

As the only highly complicated Audemars Piguet of the 20th century, it also features a minute repeater, Grande and Petite Sonnerie, a chronograph and the brand's only tourbillon in a pocket watch of that era.

With 19 complications, the „Grosse Pièce“ shares the title of the most complicated Audemars Piguet pocket watch of all time with the legendary „Universelle“ of 1899.

The mysterious whereabouts of Audemars Piguet's "Grosse Pièce"

After its delivery to S. Smith & Son in 1921, the „Grosse Pièce“ disappeared from public view for decades, known only through archival records and rare photographs. A document from January 1915 reveals studies of sidereal time, zodiac signs, solstices, and the state of the northern hemisphere sky—offering insight into the pioneering spirit and craftsmanship that defined the golden age of watchmaking.

For years the watch remained in the renowned Olmsted Collection of watch collector Robert M. Olmsted, who died in 2024, and was admired only by a select few under the strictest secrecy.

„The reappearance of the ‚Grosse Pièce‘ at Sotheby’s is a historic moment for collectors and enthusiasts. That this is happening in our 150th anniversary year makes it all the more extraordinary. We are delighted to welcome this significant timepiece to the AP Heritage Collection, where it will be preserved, researched, and presented for future generations,“ commented Sebastian Vivas (Director of Heritage and Museum at Audemars Piguet).

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