Some watches were created to tell the time. Others were created to demonstrate what a manufacture was capable of when technical limitations no longer dictated the outcome. This reference 14566BC belongs firmly to the latter category. It combines the sharp, geometric lines of Audemars Piguet’s ultra-thin dress watches with traditional Geneva gem-setting at a level rarely encountered today.

The solid white gold case is framed by a bezel set with perfectly matched baguette-cut diamonds, while the dial is entirely paved with brilliant-cut diamonds. Deep blue sapphire hour markers provide just enough contrast to make the display legible without interrupting the composition. Every element feels deliberate, from the slender hands to the clean proportions of the square case.

Equally remarkable is the integrated white gold bracelet. Its intricate woven construction requires an extraordinary amount of hand finishing and gives the watch a fluidity that is impossible to replicate with conventional links. It drapes around the wrist almost like fabric, while the concealed clasp allows the bracelet’s uninterrupted pattern to remain intact.

This example has been preserved in excellent condition. The case retains its crisp geometry, the hallmarks remain clearly visible and the bracelet shows the sharp definition expected from a watch that has been carefully looked after. The diamonds remain bright and evenly matched throughout, while the dial has retained its original brilliance.

It is a highly specialised creation from a period in which Audemars Piguet produced some of the most accomplished jewellery watches of the twentieth century, combining traditional haute joaillerie with the understated design language for which the manufacture has long been admired.