Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 20, 1991

LOT 450

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 505811, case No. 356030, Ref. 6213, made and sold in 1957. Extremely fine and rare and probably unique, large, center second, self winding, "World Time", 18ct gold gentleman's wristwatch, with a special system to set the time or the time zone, with fitted box and certificate.

CHF 0 - 0

C. massive, polished, straight lugs. D. at the centre, mat silver, with applied gold indexes, concentric, revolving dial in 24 hours with the diurnal and noctural hours, outer silver dial bearing the names of 42 towns in the world. This disc is activated by the push-piece at 9 o'clock, and revolves. The winding-crown is for winding and hand-setting of the watch, and pushing on the coaxial button on the crown revolves by jump-type, the ring dial in 24 hours. "Bâton" and fancy gold hands. M. Cal. 499, rhodiumed, " fausses côtes" decoration, 21 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures, antishock system, selfcompensating Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. In excellent condition. Diam. 40 mm.


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Notes

This watch was made in 3 examples only, but only this one was ever finished, and sold. It is extraordinary by its size, by its self-winding and hand-setting system. This "World Time" system was patented and invented by Louis Cottier who made it for Patek Philippe, Vacheron & Constantin Agassiz and Rolex, and is the most complicated ever known.