Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 529

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève,movement No. 454901, case No. 286297,made for the British Hydrographic Service, in 1940. Very fine and rare, large, silver, keyless, indirect center-seconds deck and pocket lever chronometer with Guillaume balance. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

USD 5,500 - 7,500 / EUR 3,800 - 5,000

Sold: CHF 9,000

C. Four-body, "bassine", polished, silver. Hinged silver cuvette. D. Brushed silver, champlevé Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost seconds track divided into fifths. Blued steel spade hands. M. 47.4 mm., 21''', Cal. 166, gilt brass, fausses cotes decoration, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, anibal-brass Guillaume balance with special alloy Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometric regulator. Dial, case and movement signed, back of the case engraved H.S.- 2 54901. Diam. 60 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

An excellent example of a Vacheron Constantin deck chronometer made for the British Hydrographic Service, excellently finished and in very good condition. 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 Hydrographic Service was the surveying arm of the Royal Navy. In the early 19th century, Navy Hydrographer Thomas Hurd persuaded the Admiralty that surveys at sea would best be carried out by Royal Navy ships. For surveying purposes, the Service needed top quality timekeepers, such as the present lot.