Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Oct 13, 2001

LOT 345

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Mercator", No. 797900, case No. 636849, Ref. 43050. Produced in 1995.Very fine self-winding, water-resistant down to 30 m., 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with gold dial representing the Continents of Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia, with double retrograde sector graduated for 12 hours and 60 minutes, 42 hours autonomy, an 18K gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp.

C. two-body, inspired by the "Géographique" line launched at the end of the 1940's, solid, polished, transparent back, rounded band, stepped bezel, overhanging fluted lugs, sapphire crystal. D. 22K gold dial plates engraved with the continents and other geographical features as well as the two sectors graduated from 1 to 12 for the hours and from 0 to 60 for the minutes, with painted Arabic numerals and indexes. After each course, the hands, thanks to a special system, return to zero after one hlf day and one hour respectively. The gold "Dauphine" geometrical hands, in the shape of a marine compass reminiscent of the one used by the famous cartographer Gerardus Mercator, are placed on the 12 rather than at the center of the dial. M. Cal. 1120, extra-flat, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 36 jewels, lever escapement, annular glucidur balance adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, 19'800 vibrations per hour, hanging barrel, self-compensating flat balance-spring,21K gold rotor bearing the engraving "1594 - Gérard Mercator - 1994".Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm.