Audemars Piguet Extremely Rare and Very Special Manual Wind Cal. VZSS, Serial Number 51960, Early 1940s

This is an extremely rare and collectible Audemars Piguet (AP) wristwatch in remarkable condition. It represents an early execution of the rare Valjoux VZ series movement in a time-only AP watch. At the time of its production 80 years ago, this was a very exclusive and expensive watch that captured all the elements of a classic dress timepiece in precious metal. It is 33 mm in diameter, which is small by today’s standards, but measuring 43 mm lug-to-lug with stepped flared lugs, the watch has a much larger presence on the wrist than the diameter implies. This remarkable watch is only 7.6 mm thick. A Rare and Early Use of the VZSS Movement What elevates this watch to a rare and collectible status is the exceptionally large, robust, and accurate chronometer-grade movement housed within. To connoisseurs of vintage watches, the movement is instantly recognizable by its ¾ plate design, distinctive curved shape of the openings between the bridges, and large balance wheel. Introduced in the 1