Important Watches

Geneva, Mar 20, 2010

LOT 414

Vacheron & Constantin Champlevé Couteau Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Couteau". Made circa 1940. Extremely fine and equally rare, early, extra-thin, 18K yellow gold and champlevé enamel keyless dress watch.

CHF 17,000 - 23,000

USD 16,000 - 21,000 / EUR 12,000 - 16,000

Sold: CHF 19,200

C. Two-piece, solid, polished, knife edge, entirely decorated with engraved flowers and foliage and black champlevé enamel, triangular pendant. D. Matte silver with painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Cal. 17???, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 21 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, flat balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 47 mm. Thickness 3.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Vacheron & Constantin were originally commissioned by Cartier in the 1940s to produce "Couteau? watches for sale in their London and New York boutiques. The watches made by Vacheron & Constantin from 1940 utilized a movement which was seven douzièmes or 1.31 mm thick, which allowed them to produce incredibly thin watches, as is the case with the present watch. This watch, which is less than 4 mm thick, is one of the thinnest mechanical watches ever produced and probably one of the earliest.