Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Apr 23, 2006

LOT 318

"Champlevé Couteau" Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Couteau". Made circa 1940. Extremely fine and equally rare, early, extra-thin, 18K yellow gold and champlevé enamel keyless dress pocket watch.

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EUR 3,200 - 4,300 / USD 4,000 - 5,200

C. Two-piece, solid, polished, knife edge, entirely decorated with engraved flowers and foliage and black champlevé enamel, triangular pendant. D. Matte silver with painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel "Breguet? hands. M. Cal. 17???, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, flat balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 48 mm. Thickness 3.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Vacheron & Constantin were originally commissioned by Cartier in the 1940s to produce "Couteau? watches for sale in their London and New York boutiques. The watches made by Vacheron & Constantin from 1940 utilized a movement which was seven douzièmes or 1.31 mm thick, which allowed them to produce incredibly thin watches, as is the case with the present watch. This watch, which is less than 4 mm thick, is one of the thinnest mechanical watches ever produced and probably one of the earliest.