Important Collectors Watches, Pocket...
Geneva, Oct 14, 2007
LOT 155
?Platinum Mercator? Vacheron Constantin, Genève, "Gérard Mercator 1594-1994", No. 861560, case No. 744532, Ref. 43050. Made in 1994. Very fine and unusual, self-winding, water-resistant platinum wristwatch with retrograde hands on dial with a champlevé enamel map of Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Antarctica, with an 18K white gold Vacheron Constantin double deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original certficate and a Vacheron Constantin pouch.
CHF 23,000 - 28,000
EUR 14,000 - 17,000 / USD 20,000 - 23,000
Sold: CHF 37,760
C. Two-body, solid, polished and brushed, transparent case back with serrated edge, rounded band, stepped bezel, overhanging curved and fluted lugs, sapphire crystals. D. 22K white gold, signed J. and L. Genbrugge, representing a map in black champlevé enamel of the continents of Africa, Europe, Asia, part of Australia and Antarctica, double sectors graduated from 1 to 12 for the hours and from 0 to 60 for the minutes with painted Arabic numerals and dot indexes. The white gold hands are in the shape of a marine compass, reminiscent of the one used by famous cartographer Gerardus Mercator. M. Cal. 1120/2 extra-thin, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 36 jewels, stamped with the Geneva Quality Mark, straight line lever escapement, annular beryllium balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, shock-absorber, selfcompensating flat balance-spring, 21K yellow gold rotor segment bearing the engraving "1594-Gérard Mercator-1994". Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness: 8.3 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 1 |
As new |
Movement: 1 |
As new |
Dial: 1-01 |
As new HANDS Original |
Notes
The dials of the "Mercator" watches, representing various continents or countries, were inspired by a 16th century map drawn by Gerardus Mercator, famous cartographer and humanist.
The "Mercator" watch was launched in 1994 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the cartographer?s death, with a series inspired by their 1940s "Geographic Line".
Watch No. 1 of a series of 50 pieces was sold by Antiquorum in the thematic sale "The Art of Vacheron Constantin", lot 286. The dial of the present watch represents Europe, Africa, Asia, and part of Australia and Antarctica.
The dials were executed in the champlevé, cloisonné, and painted on enamel techniques by Belgian artists Lucie and Jean Genbrugge.
Vacheron Constantin made a small number of examples strictly monitored "Mercator" series, all with 22K gold and enameled dials. On special request, Vacheron Constantin also made Mercator watches featuring a single region or continent, as well as the Chinese zodiac.