Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
Geneva, Nov 16, 2008
LOT 337
Platinum Malte Tonneau Tourbillon Vacheron Constantin, Genève, "Malte Tonneau Tourbillon", movement No. 914806, case No. 763880, Ref. 30066- 67/1. Sold in December 2000. Extremely fine and very rare, tonneau-shaped, water-resistant, platinum wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, 42-hour power reserve, date and an 18K white gold Vacheron Constantin double deployant clasp. Accompanied by a fitted box, Certificate of Authenticity, and push pin.
CHF 70,000 - 90,000
USD 65,000 - 85,000 / EUR 45,000 - 55,000
Sold: CHF 72,000
C. Three-body, solid, polished, fluted lugs, transparent case back with 8 screws, sapphire crystals. D. Solid gold, applied 18K white gold tapered baton hour indexes, sunray-brushed centre, radial hand-guilloché outer zone, inner minute divisions, powerreserve sector, date ring between 1 and 2, aperture for the tourbillon cage under a polished steel bridge, carrying the subsidiary seconds hand. Frosted and polished white 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 adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 37 x 47 mm. Thickness 13 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 1 |
As new |
Dial: 1-01 |
As new HANDS Original |
Notes
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.