Production of Vacheron Constantin minute repeating wristwatches: 38 examples in total, in pink, yellow, white gold and platinum : -17 examples in 1942 - 9 examples in 1944 - 12 examples in 1951. This outstanding wristwatch was developped by Vacheron Constantin and Dubois-Dépraz. Collectors and professionals worldwide consider this model the most beautiful minute repeating wristwatch made in the last 50 years.
What is a Minute Repeater? A minute repeating watch tells the time both visually and audibly. A slide on the side of the case activates two hammers in the movement. These hammers strike two gongs in the case. First one hammer strikes a gong of a lower tonality to count out the hours. Then both hammers strike both gongs alternately to count out the quarter hours after the hour, and the second hammer alone strikes a higher-toned gong to count out the minutes after the quarter hour. The repeating mechanism was developed by Daniel Quare. In 1687, he patented a mechanism to sound the hours and quarter hours. The early repeaters used bells. In the late 18th century, two bent-wire gongs became the more popular mechanism.
Repeating watches allowed their owner to know the time under any circumstances: at night, or in a dark street. They also made it possible for the blind to tell time, etc. Since the early 20th century, many of the most important creators, watchmakers or manufacturers, have produced minute repeating wristwatches, always in limited editions, for the most sophisticated collectors in the world.