Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 15, 2016

LOT 164

VACHERON ONE MINUTE TOURBILLON 1ST PRIZE AT GENEVA OBSERVATORY Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 413628, case No. 258440. Made in 1931. Extremely rare and important, 18K gold, keyless pocket watch with one minute tourbillon regulator and Guillaume balance, specially adjusted for the 1931 Geneva Observatory Contest obtaining first prize. Accompanied by an extract of the Geneva Observatory.

CHF 50,000 - 70,000

HKD 400,000 - 560,000 / USD 52,000 - 73,000

Sold: CHF 183,750

Three-body, "bassine", polished, with concealed hinge. Glazed gold-rimmed cuvette. White enamel with Arabic numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "Breguet" hands. 42 mm. (19'''), rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 19 jewels, wolf's tooth winding, one minute tourbillon regulator, the carriage with three polished steel equidistant arms and matted steel bridge, straight-line lever escapement, cut Guillaume anibal- brass compensation balance with gold temperature adjustment screws, blued steel Beguet balance spring, index regulator.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 54 mm. The present watch was submitted to the GENEVA OBSERVATORY in 1931 and won first prize. It was one of a special group of watches, all with tourbillon regulators, and all adjusted under the direction of master adjuster E. OLIVIER AND BRAHIER, for the 1946 and 1947 Geneva Timing Contest. The results surpassed all expectations: the first three places in 1947 were taken by VACHERON CONSTANTIN, and the alltime record was broken, with 883.8 points. In particular, the record that PATEK PHILIPPE had held for 13 years, since 1934, was broken. Out of the 30 first places, Vacheron Constantin took half the prizes. All the watches were identical - extremely high-grade tourbillon regulators, made entirely in the factory, superbly adjusted by Olivier or Brahier, aided by the skill acquired through years of experience. The results of this trial are as follows: Name of Regulator: E. Olivier. The chronometre No. 413628 obtained 846 points out of a possible 1000. The highest score achieved in this trial was 854 points and the lowest 581. Provenance: Klaus Nietheidt, Auktion No. 5, May 1979, Lot 250.