
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Audemars Piguet Ultra-Slim Türler Signed (Ref. 5043), 1950s
- Maker / attribution
- Audemars Piguet (maker)
- Date
- 1950s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 32 mm
- Stock no.
- Product 8402168053943
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Huntington Company (product 8402168053943)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1950s Audemars Piguet Ultra-Slim Türler Signed (Ref. 5043) (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Huntington Company (dealer) (stock number Product 8402168053943), this is a wristwatch by Audemars Piguet, made in Switzerland, dated 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 32 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Huntington Company
History and Significance This Audemars Piguet ultra-slim dress watch comes from a period when the brand was producing some of the most refined time-only wristwatches in Swiss watchmaking. During the 1950s, Audemars Piguet was deeply invested in thin manual-wind movements and restrained case design, supplying pieces that were intended for understated, daily elegance rather than technical bravado. These watches were made in relatively small numbers and were never mass-market products. The additional Türler signature on the dial adds an important layer of historical context. Türler was one of the most respected Swiss retailers of the 20th century, and dual-signed dials were reserved for select clients and top-tier manufacturers. Seeing Türler paired with Audemars Piguet places this watch firmly in the upper tier of mid-century dress watches, both in quality and original retail positioning. The white gold case is especially notable here. Unlike yellow gold examples that often show heavier polishing over decades, this case retains sharp geometry and honest surface wear, suggesting it has not been aggressively refinished. Combined with the minimalist dial layout, slender applied markers, and balanced proportions, this watch represents Audemars Piguet at its most classical and disciplined. Writer’s Thoughts This is one of those watches that rewards close inspection. At a glance it feels simple, but the more time you spend with it, the more you appreciate the restraint. The unpolished white gold case has a quiet presence that you don’t see often, and the Türler signature gives it a bit of private-club character. It wears effortlessly, disappears under a cuff, and feels exactly like what a great dress watch from this era should be. Our Promise Every watch is thoroughly vetted, carefully described with complete transparency, and guaranteed authentic. Each piece is offered in honest condition, ensuring collectors receive a timepiece that reflects both originality and integrity. Specifications Brand: Audemars Piguet Model: Ultra-Slim (Ref. 5043) Year: 1950s Case Material: White gold Case Size: 32mm Case: White gold ultra-slim case with smooth bezel Dial: Silver dial with applied markers and Türler co-signature Crystal: Acrylic Movement: Manual wind Audemars Piguet ultra-thin movement Strap/Bracelet: Leather strap Buckle/Clasp: Tang buckle Contents: Watch only Condition Case: White gold case and integrated bezel show light surface wear consistent with age. Case remains unpolished with strong edges and original proportions intact. Crystal: Acrylic crystal shows light surface marks consistent with careful use. No cracks observed. Dial: Dial is clean with even aging and intact printing. Türler signature remains crisp and legible. Hands: Original hands show light aging consistent with the rest of the watch. Strap/Bracelet: Leather strap is new. Buckle/Clasp: Tang buckleis new.
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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