Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 262

Ref. 4737, So-Called ?Pink Cioccolatone? Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, ?Automatic?, No. 536987, case No. 367309, Ref. 4737. Made in 1958. Very fine and very rare, large, curved, "carré", center-seconds, self-winding, 18K pink gold gentleman's wristwatch with pink gold Vacheron & Constantin buckle.

CHF 30,000 - 45,000

EUR 20,000 - 28,000 / USD 25,000 - 37,000

Sold: CHF 51,920

C. Two-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, domed thick crystal. D. Two tone silver with applied pink gold pyramid and triangular indexes. Pink gold "baton" hands. M. Cal. P1019/1, rhodium-plated, ?faussescôtes? decoration, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, beryllium balance with timing screws, adjusted to temperatures, shock-absorber, self compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan neck micrometer regulator, heavy metal rotor. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 36 x 43,5 mm. Thickness. 13 mm From ?The Collection?


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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

Ref. 4737 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 guilloché dial and a platinum case and was launched under the name ?Toledo?.