One of Audemars Piguet’s most historic timepieces just sold for a record sum at auction—and the buyer will come as no surprise. The most-complicated AP pocket watch still in private hands hammered down for $7.7 million at Sotheby’s New York yesterday, making it the most expensive timepiece from the brand ever to go under the gavel. And, during a 10-minute bidding skirmish between four collectors, Audemars Piguet itself ended up reclaiming its S. Smith & Son Astronomical Watch, nicknamed “Grosse Pièce” (or “Big Piece” in English), as it announced in a press release after the sale. The ultra-rare watch far surpassed its top estimate of $1 million, and it’s easy to see why. “Grosse Pièce,” or No. 16869, is the most comprehensive astronomical timepiece ever brought to life by the Swiss watchmaker. Done up in 18-karat yellow gold, the bonkers creation shows London’s night sky, complete with 315 stars and 18 constellations—the only..
