Important Collectors' Watches, Pocket...
Geneva, Mar 16, 2008
LOT 574
Alexander I, King of Yugoslavia? Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 410491, case No. 252582. Made in 1929. Retailed by Milan T. Stefanovitch, Belgrade.Accompanied y a certificate of authentcity. Very fine and rare, square with canted corners, 18K yellow gold lady?s wristwatch with a Vacheron & Constantin yellow gold buckle.
CHF 6,000 - 8,000
USD 5,400 - 7,200 / EUR 3,700 - 5,000
Sold: CHF 4,320
C. Three-body, solid, polished, back with the cipher of the Serbian Royal family surmounted by a crown. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold ?cubiste? numerals. Yellow gold Breguet hands. M. Cal. 9??? 94, rhodium-plated, 15 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with five adjustments, flat balance spring, index regulator. Dial and movement signed. Dial also signed by the retailer. Dim. 22 x 22 mm. Thickness: 7 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 5-8-01 |
Poor Slightly scratched HANDS Original |
Notes
King Alexander I of Yugoslavia (1888 - 1934) of the Royal House of Karagjordgevic, was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929-1934) and before that king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1921-1929). Alexander was born in Cetinje in Montenegro in December 1888, the second son of Prince Pietro Karagjorgevic, who was later to become King Peter I of Serbia, and of Zorka of Montenegro. He became heir to the throne in 1909, when his older brother renounced his right to succession. On 8 June 1922 he married Princess Mary of Romania, the daughter of King Ferdinand of Romania. Because three members of his family had died on a Tuesday, Alexander refused to undertake any public functions on that day. However, on Tuesday 9 October 1934 he had no choice, as he was arriving in Marseille for a state visit to the Third French Republic. When being driven through the streets along with French Foreign Minister Louis Barthou, a gunman in the crowd shot the King, the Minister and the chauffeur. It was one of the first assassinations captured on film. After Alexander?s assassination, as his son Peter II was still a minor, Peter's uncle Pavle Karagjordgevic took the regency of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia until Peter reached adulthood. Peter was to become the last King of Yugoslavia, fleeing to London in 1941 when the Nazis attacked and occupied his country.