Important Collector's Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Nov 11, 2007

LOT 119

Ref. 4072 Staybrite Two-Tone Dial Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 431481, case No. 273534, Ref. 4072. Made in 1943. Very fine and extremely rare "Staybrite" wristwatch with square button chronograph, register and tachometer, and two-tone dial. Accompanied by the Certificate of Origin.

CHF 75,000 - 90,000

EUR 45,000 - 55,000 / USD 65,000 - 75,000

Sold: CHF 82,600

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, inclined bezel, concave lugs. D. Two-tone silver with applied white gold faceted baton indexes, subsidiary seconds and 30-minute register dials, outer minutes and fifths of a second track with Arabic five minute/second numerals, outer tachometer graduation for 1 mile. White gold baton hands. M. Cal. 13??? 434 chronographe, rhodium-plated, fausses côtes decoration, 21 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 33 mm. Thickness 11.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-23-01

Very good

Later

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch was recently fully overhauled by Vacheron Constantin. This sporty and dynamic Staybrite watch, like certain Patek Philippe or Rolex sports watches, is one of the models Vacheron Constantin became famous for in the mid 20th century. Beautiful, masculine, and technically perfect, not only was it a commercial success at the time, but has long been considered one of the classics of 20th century horology.

Staybrite

Is the name of a steel alloy containing 0.2% carbon, 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is a stainless material that takes a fine polish and is therefore often used for making watch cases. It is probably the type of stainless steel that has been most widely used by watch companies. Another example of this watch was sold by Antiquorum, "The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Constantin", April 3rd, 2005, Lot 56.