Rare Swiss green gold and enamel complicated lever Circa 1922

Green gold and enamel complicated chronograph by Audemars Piguet
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A rare Swiss 18 carat green gold and enamel hunting cased minute repeating split-seconds chronograph lever pocket watch with perpetual calendar and moon phases, circa 1922. Sold to Gübelin on November 27, 1922, for 3,500 CHF. Lever movement made in 1908, jewelled. 14 Carat gold dial with fantaisie black Arabic numerals, subsidiary dials for the days of the week, months, date and constant seconds combined with moon phases. Bezels and Murat style pendant with Greek key enamel pattern. Case, dial and movement signed by the watchmaker and retailer, case and movement numbered. Comes with an Extract from the Archives.
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Diameter: 50.5 mm
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Signed: E. Gübelin Lucerne Swiss
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For the first decade of the 20th century, Audemars Piguet largely prospered in business and received orders for highly complicated watches. The company grew exponentially and even secured larger workshop space in 1907. Devastating historical events like the Knickerbocker Crisis of 1907 and the fall of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917 shook the Swiss watchmaking industry with a rapid decline in sales. Audemars Piguet was an exceptionally resilient firm, supporting their rich heritage and high horology against all odds. Indeed, ‘Audemars Piguet, Masterpieces of Classical Watchmaking’ notes specifically that the fruits of their labour “started to appear in 1922”, exactly the year this piece was completed for sale to Gübelin, Lucerne.