Swiss platinum open faced minute repeating lever watch Circa 1950

Platinum lever minute repeater by Audemars Piguet
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A Swiss platinum open faced minute repeating pocket watch, circa 1950. The watch features a 17″Ligne movement with a lever escapement. It has a silvered dial adorned with Breguet numerals, an outer minute ring, a subsidiary seconds dial, and gold Cathedrale hands. The brushed platinum case includes a snap on the case back. Both the case and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 44 mm
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Signed: Audemars Piguet
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The case is in fair condition, showing surface wear and scuffing throughout. The case back and bands have superficial scratches. Platinum marks are present on the interior lip but are visible. The dial is generally attractive, with some light wear and dust. The applied numerals show some oxidation. The hands have minor scuffs. The minute chime is not in sync and may require servicing at the buyer’s discretion. The movement is operational.
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Audemars Piguet & Cie. Jules Louis Audemars, born on March 28th, 1851 and died on October 15th, 1918, and Edward Auguste Piguet, born in 1853 and died in 1919, were two young and ambitious watchmakers who established their workshop in 1875 in their home village, Le Brassus, Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. Audemars was in charge of production and technical aspects, while Piguet focused on sales and management. Believing in the power of the Vallée de Joux’s network of artisanship and following their firm convictions, they set on crafting unique, complicated mechanisms by hand at a time when serial production was looming with the rise of industrialisation. 
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While the two entrepreneurs first produced complicated movements that were sold to Genevabased firms, they soon orchestrated the production of complete watches in the region by coordinating the activities of a variety of craftsmen, buying in blanks, cases, dials, and bracelets and sending out pieces for gemsetting and decorating. The miniaturisation, design, assembly, and setting of movements were then done at Audemars Piguet’s workbenches. The company ledgers demonstrate that nearly 80% of the 1600 watches produced by Audemars Piguet between 1882 and 1892 included at least one, if not several, complications. Refined chiming, chronograph, and astronomical watches, assembled and finished by hand, have remained the beating heart of Audemars Piguet ever since.