Collector’s Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

Grand Havana Room, New York, Mar 13, 2002

LOT 121

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 482300, case No. 319167, circa 1950. Very fine and rare, aluminum keyless dress watch.

USD 3,000 - 3,500

Sold: USD 3,680

C. three-piece, ?demi-bassine?, polished and matted. D. matte aluminum with applied aluminum polished Breguet numerals and subsidiary seconds, ?Breguet? polished aluminum hands. M. 36.5 mm (17'''), aluminum, Cal. 439/6, ?fausses côtes? decoration, 17 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, Breguet balance spring with swan-neck micrometric regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Case inscribed: ?Presented to I.M. Fung-A-Ling by Demerara Bauxite Company Limited 1951?. Diam. 44 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

The total weight of this watch is 20 grams. Watches such as this one were produced in very limited numbers begin-ning in the late 1930?s. The present watch was ordered by the Demerara Bauxite Company of Guyana, which was incorporated by the Aluminum Company of America in 1916, three years after the discovery of rich bauxite (Aluminum oxide) deposits in Guyana. At the time this watch was purchased, Guyana?s total aluminum production reached two million tons per year. Most of this was produced by the Demerara Bauxite Company in its mine at Mackenzie, on the Demerara river. For an almost identical example, see Antiquorum catalogue, October 14, 2001, lot 673 (selling price: SF 7,500).