Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Oct 27, 2019

LOT 362

VACHERON CONSTANTIN HISTORICAL WATCH, MINUTE-REPEATER, SPLIT-SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH; “CHRONOMÈTRE”; 18K YELLOW GOLD

HKD 120,000 - 140,000

CHF 14,950 - 17,900 / USD 15,000 - 18,000

Sold: HKD 137,500

18K yellow gold, open-face, keyless-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch, with subsidiary seconds at 6 and three horological complications: • Minute-repeater on two steel gongs (activated by the slide at 8 o’clock) • 1/5 second chronograph (activated by the single round push-piece located on the winding-crown) • Split-seconds (activated by the rectangular push-piece located on the case-band at 1 o’clock) Case-back engraved in taille-douce (fine cut) with the coat-of-arms of the Middleton Family and the motto “Fortis in arduis” (meaning Strong in difficulties or Strength in adversity).


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view Click to full view Click to full view Click to full view
Image Image Image Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Vacheron Constantin

Model “Chronomètre"

Year Circa 1903

Movement No. 324 749

Calibre  17’’’ (ebauche by J. H. Piguet, Le Sentier, Vallée de Joux), ¾ plate, rhodium-plated, with going barrel, straight-line lever escapement, cut compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, index regulator with swan-neck spring and micrometric screw, adjusted

Case No. 196 137

Diameter  47.8 mm

Signature Dial, Case and Movement

Accessories Extract from the archivies

Notes

The Extract from the Archives, dated September 2019, mentioned that this watch was sold in 1903. According to the manufacture’s “Livre d’Etablissement des montres à sonnerie”, the watch was delivered to Black, Starr & Frost, New York (U.S.A.). Fortis in arduis (meaning Strong in difficulties or Strength in adversity) Motto of the Municipal Borough of Middleton, administrative county of Lancashire, England, from the Earl of Middleton.