Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Po...

New York, Mar 15, 2006

LOT 199

So-called "Yellow Cioccolatone" Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Automatic", No. 557322, case No. 352747, Ref. 4737. Made in the early 1950s. Very fine and rare, large, "carré galbé", center seconds, self-winding, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with an 18K gold buckle.

USD 18,000 - 23,000

EUR 15,000 - 20,000

Sold: USD 25,960

C. Two-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, domed crystal. D. Satiné silver with applied faceted yellow gold square and triangular indexes. Yellow gold "bâton" hands. M. Cal. K 1071, stamped with the Geneva Quality Hallmark, rhodium-plated, ?fausses côtes? decoration, 29 jewels, 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: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 4737 is called ?cioccolatone? by Italian collectors due to its shape. Several variatons exist, manual winding, Ref. 4822, the self-winding Ref. 4764 and 6440 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.