The First-Ever Patek Philippe Replica Watches Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon

These prototypes are usually kept in manufacturer archives or destroyed. However, Beyner and Grimm's last prototype was sold at auction in lot 200 of the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction: Three in May 2016. The complete documentation was included in the lot. The watch sold for CHF 30,000.

Beyner and Grimm were aware that the watch could be manufactured in large quantities if necessary, but they realized there were two crucial questions. First, who would manufacture it? None of the Swiss watch manufacturers had made richard mille replica watches the investment in new machinery. Second, was there a market for tourbillon wristwatches? Not only was one not sold commercially but also, less than 20 tourbillions of them had been produced. This was most likely the definition of untested market.

First, you need to choose a manufacturer. It had to be one of three great maisons, Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin. Patek Philippe was rejected as being too conservative. Audemars Piguet was chosen as Audemars was the most obvious choice. The new watch was extremely slim and Audemars Piguet held the record for the world's smallest Patek Philippe Replica Watches movement for many years. Audemars Piguet was also still owned by the founding family, so the decision process was short.

1986

The tourbillon aperture is the centrepiece of the dial. It's a common sight, but something that was rare in the 1980s. The sun is represented by the tourbillon, which has the rays extending from this point. The watch was inspired by Egyptian carvings and became the "Ra", the sun god.

Audemars Piguet had many advantages. The investment was not significant as the components of the case/movement/tourbillon could be manufactured by the prototyping firm that had previously Patek Philippe Replica Watches done the work for Beyner & Grimm. While the assembly would be performed by their master watchmakers, the cost of the project would be minimal. The main advantage was that Audemars Piguet would be able to put it back at the top of their tree as the first company to produce a self-winding touringbillon in its regular production. Audemars Pigot launched the Ra Tourbillon Automatique at the Basel Fair 1986. It was initially made in yellow gold, but later it was made in platinum.