Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York, Dec 07, 2005

LOT 280

So-called "Yellow Cioccolatone" Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Automatic", No. 522106, case No. 349853, Ref. 4737. Made circa 1953. Very fine and rare, large, "carré galbé", center seconds, self-winding, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with an 18K gold buckle.

USD 25,000 - 35,000

EUR 20,000 - 30,000

C. Two-body, solid, polished and brushed, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, domed thick crystal, case back with presentation inscription. D. Silver with applied yellow gold pyramidal and dart indexes. Yellow gold "baton" hands. M. Cal. 12''' P1019, rhodium plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, beryllium balance with timing screws, adjusted to temperatures, shockabsorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 35 x 43 mm. Thickness: 12 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-7

Good

Oxidized
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-5-01

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 4737 This reference is called ?cioccolatone? by Italian collectors due to its shape. Several variatons 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 a platinum case and was launched under the name ?Toledo?.