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| 70's 18WG 16mm Manual watch only The Jade dial Audemars Piguet from this period represents one of the most elegant examples of the brand's stone-dial dress watches, most likely produced in the late 1970s to early 1980s, when Audemars Piguet was creating extremely refined ultra-thin watches with integrated bracelets and hard-stone dials. During this era, Audemars Piguet produced a number of minimalist oval and elongated case designs, often paired with materials such as jade, onyx, lapis lazuli, or malachite. These watches were not sports models, but rather high-end dress pieces intended to feel closer to jewelry than to traditional wristwatches. The long, tapered integrated bracelet seen on this example is typical of late-70s AP design, where the case and bracelet were made as one continuous form rather than separate parts. The jade dial is a particularly interesting detail. Natural jade was used in very small quantities because it is difficult to cut without breaking, and each dial shows a slightly different tone of green depending on the stone. Unlike printed dials, stone dials have depth and texture, giving the watch a very luxurious but understated appearance. Because of the fragility of the material, well-preserved examples without cracks or chips are becoming increasingly rare. Most watches from this period used ultra-thin manual or quartz movements, allowing Audemars Piguet to create extremely slim cases while keeping the proportions elegant. This thinness, combined with the integrated bracelet, makes these watches wear almost like a piece of fine jewelry. Today, late-70s to early-80s stone dial Audemars Piguet watches are appreciated by collectors for their purity of design, low production numbers, and strong connection to the era when the brand was experimenting with form, materials, and ultra-thin watchmaking before the modern luxury sports watch boom. |
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