AUDEMARS PIGUET FOR CARTIER The “H.H. Windsor minute repeater”
The present watch was originally purchased by Henry Haven Windsor, Jr., the son of the founder of Popular Mechanics magazine and an avid watch collector.
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After his father’s death, when Windsor was 26 he became editor and publisher of the magazine, which had originally been founded in 1902. Under his leadership, the circulation of Popular Mechanics magazine increased to 2 million. In 1927 he was married to the Metropolitan Opera singer, Louise Hunter and together they had two sons, each of whom would go on to also work for the family magazine for a time. Popular Mechanics was sold by Windsor in 1958 to the Hearst Corporation, who still retain ownership of the publication to this day. This wonderfully rare and horologically important wristwatch bears the engraving on the reverse of H.H.WINDSOR 200 E. ONTARIO ST. CHICAGO. Few watches from this period have such a presence on the wrist as this example we see here. The combination of many highly desirable elements such as the platinum case, the minute repeating movement, the Cartier signature and Breguet numerals on the dial is impressive. Few complicated vintage wristwatches can better echo the style of the 1920s and 30s as this watch.
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