Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

New York, Jun 18, 2008

LOT 243

Deck Watch with Guillaume Balance Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, ?Chronomètre?, No. 439537, case No. 280869. Made for the British Hydrographic Service, No. 9537, circa 1942. Very fine and rare, large, keyless, silver deck and pocket lever chronometer with Guillaume balance. Accompanied by the original Dennison wooden deck box with issue labels from The Royal Greenwich Observatory, Chronometer Department at Herstmonceux Castle, Sussex and H.M. Chronometer Depot, Bradford-on-Avon, dated September 20, 1944.

USD 4,500 - 6,500

EUR 3,000 - 4,200

C. Four-body, "bassine", polished, the back engraved with the Admiralty broad arrow mark and H.S.2. Hinged silver cuvette. Two-tier wooden box with brass bowl and bexel. D. White enamel, Arabic numerals, outer minute track, large subsidiary seconds, numbered 9537 and with the broad arrow mark. Blued steel spade hands. M. Cal. 22??? 73, rhodium plated, fausses cotes and oeil-deperdrix decoration, 19 jewels, wolf's tooth winding, straight-line lever escapement, anibal-brass Guillaume balance with gold timing screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed, bowl signed Dennison, British Made. Length 121 mm, width 98 mm, height 65 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-9

Good

Scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch is one of a series of 150 pocket lever chronometers made by Vacheron & Constantin in the 1940?s. The British Hydrographic Service was established in 1795. The worldwide pre-eminence of the Royal Navy in the 19th century meant that Admiralty charts became the global standard for all ships, whether warships or merchantmen. The Service was the surveying arm of the Royal Navy. It acquired top-level recognition early in the 19th century, when the Hydrographer of the Navy, Thomas Hurd, persuaded the Admiralty that their charts should go on general sale, and that surveys at sea would best be carried out by Royal Navy ships.