Swiss 18 carat white gold lever escapement watch Circa 1938

Very flat dress watch with white gold indices
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A very flat dress watch, manufactured for Filippo Chiappe, jeweller for the Royal Family in Italy, by Audemars Piguet in le Brassus, Switzerland, circa 1938. This watch features an 18 carat white gold case and a dial with a clean silvered surface, an outer minute and hour track with white gold Roman hour markers and white gold bâton hands. The numbered Piguet movement is equipped with a precision lever escapement of great rarity, Geneva striping, 17 jewels, and gold wheels.
The case and movement bear matching numbers and the dial is double signed.
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Diameter: 44 mm
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Thickness 2 mm
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Weight: 33 g
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Signed: Audemars Piguet Chiappe
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Chiappe

Filippo Chiappe was a highly celebrated court jeweller for the Italian Royal Family (the House of Savoy) and his master workshop was famously based in Genoa. Founded in 1886 in Genoa by Filippo Chiappe, the jewellery house achieved immense acclaim among the aristocracy. In 1913, Chiappe was formally appointed as an official jeweller to the Italian Royal Court. Along with Musy of Turin and Petochi and Cravanzola of Rome, Chiappe was part of an elite group of master goldsmiths closely tied to the Italian royal house.

According to the official Audemars Piguet Archives, the brand delivered rare, highly bespoke pieces directly to Chiappe in Genoa. For example, records track pieces like the one presented here, an incredibly rare 18 carat white gold dress pocket watch with Roman numerals delivered to their Genoa agent, Chiappe.