Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
Geneva, Nov 16, 2008
LOT 666
Alexander I Karagjordgevic, King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 412770, case No. 256398. Made in 1931. Fine and rare, thin, 18K white and yellow gold jump hour, wandering minute, keyless Art Deco presentation dress watch with enamel coat of arms for Alexander I Karagjordgevic, King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
CHF 15,000 - 25,000
USD 14,000 - 23,000 / EUR 9,500 - 16,000
Sold: CHF 16,800
C. Three-body, solid, polished, bezels and bow in white gold, band and case back in yellow gold, back with polychrome painted on enamel coat of arms. D. Brushed silver, apertures for the jump hours with minutes below. Triangular pointer for the minutes. M. Cal. R.A. 17???15/12, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 18 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance with eight adjustments, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 45 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-01 |
Good 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.
Literature: This watch is illustrated on pages 384 and 389 of ?The Art of Vacheron Constantin?.