Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007

LOT 261

Ref. 4178 Stainless Steel ?Medical Chronograph? Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 466566, case No. 289005, Ref. 4178. Made in 1950, sold in 1954. Very fine and rare, stainless steel gentleman?s wristwatch with square button chronograph, register and pulsometer. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

EUR 20,000 - 25,000 / USD 25,000 - 33,000

Sold: CHF 47,200

C. Three-body, solid, polished, rounded band, fancy flared lugs. D. Matte silvered with applied pink gold dart indexes and Roman half-hour numerals, subsidiary seconds and 30-minute register dials, outer 1/5th second scale, outermost pulsation scale. Pink gold "baton" hands. M. Cal. 13???, C434, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 19 jewels, straight line lever escapement, glucydur balance with timing screws adjusted to temperature, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness: 11 mm. From ?The Collection?


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 4178 The flared lugs of this reference are one of the unique characteristics of Vacheron Constantin chronographs. Instantly recognizable, perfectly proportioned, this is one of the most beautiful and sought-after sports chronograph watches of the 1940s. For a similar watch in pink gold see: Antiquorum, Geneva, ?The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Constantin?, April 3, 2005, lot 147.