The Collection of a European Nobleman

Geneva, May 11, 2008

LOT 249

Malte Tonneau Tourbillon Vacheron Constantin, Genève, "Malte Tonneau Tourbillon", No. 914800, case No. 739677, Ref. 30066R-8816. Made in 2001. Extremely fine and rare, tonneau-shaped, water-resistant, 18K pink gold wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, 42-hour power reserve, date and an 18K pink gold Vacheron Constantin buckle. Accompanied by certificates and manuals.

CHF 70,000 - 90,000

EUR 45,000 - 57,000 / USD 70,000 - 90,000

Sold: CHF 86,400

C. Three-body, solid, polished, fluted lugs, transparent case back with 4 screws, sapphire crystals. D. Sunray guilloche silver with satiné center, subsidiary dials for the hours and minutes, the date at 2, the up-and-down indication at 10, aperture for the tourbillon cage under a polished steel bridge, carrying the subsidiary seconds hand. Faceted pink gold épée hands. M. Cal. 1790, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 27 jewels, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator with Maltese Cross-shaped steel cage, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 36 x 46 mm. Thickness 12 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

What is a Tourbillon regulator? A Tourbillon is a regulating mechanism in which the escapement of a movement is housed within a revolving carriage. It was developed in an effort to attain better precision. When a watch is in a vertical position, the force of gravity will speed the balance wheel as it moves in its downward (arc) direction and slow it as it moves upward, creating deviational errors of timekeeping. By placing the balance and escapement in a carriage that revolves 360° per minute, these errors become averaged and the timekeeping becomes constant and consequently adjustable. Created by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1795, the tourbillon is considered a difficult and complex achievement by any watch manufacturer