Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 295

So-called "Yellow Cioccolatone" Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Automatic", No. 557322, case No. 352747, Ref. 4737. Made circa 1953. Very fine and rare, large, "carré galbé", center seconds, selfwinding, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with an 18K gold buckle.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

EUR 20,000 - 25,000 / USD 25,000 - 32,000

C. Two-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, domed thick crystal. D. Satiné silver with applied faceted yellow gold square and triangular indexes. Yellow gold "bâton" hands. M. Cal. K1071, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 29 jewels, stamped twice with the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 36 x 43 mm. Thickness: 12 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-33-01

Good

Restored

HANDS Original

Notes

Is called ?cioccolatone? by Italian collectors due to its shape. Several variations exist: the self-winding Ref. 4764 with calendar and moon phases; Ref. 6440 with center seconds; Ref. 6440Q, with date. These models are the most admired and sought-after wristwatches of the 1950s. Vacheron Constantin, always innovative, was clearly ahead of its time in offering a model so unusual in size and shape. Particularly pleasing was the rounded outline of the case, with its superimposed ?levels?. At the time, it was made in yellow gold, more rarely in pink gold, and only two examples in white gold. It was reintroduced as of 2003 with a guilloche dial, and was launched under the name ?Toledo?, with a platinum case.