Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

New York, Grand Havana Room, Mar 19, 2003

LOT 48

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Gérard Mercator 1594 - 1994", No. 861256, case No. 684455, Ref. 43050. Produced in the 1990's.Very fine and unusual, self-winding, water-resistant, platinum gentleman's wristwatch with an 18K white gold Vacheron & Constantin deployant clasp. Accompanied by a wooden fitted box, a loupe and instruction booklet .

USD 14,000 - 16,000

EUR 13,000 - 16,000

C .two-body, solid, polished and brushed, transparent case back, rounded band, stepped bezel, overhanging stepped lugs, sapphire crystals. D. 22K white gold dial plates engraved with the continents of America and Australia, the Arctic and Antarctic and North Guinea; double sectors graduated from 1 to 12 for the hours and from 0 to 60 for the minutes with painted Arabic numerals and indexes. The white gold "Dauphine" geometrical hands, in the shape of a marine compass reminiscent of the one usedby the famous cartographer Gerardus Mercator. M. Cal. 1120/2 stamped with the Geneva Quality Hallmark, extra-thin, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 36 jewels, straight line lever escapement adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring, 21K yellow gold rotor segment bearing the engraving "1594 - Gérard Mercator - 1994". Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 36 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 1
Movement: 1
Dial: 1 - 01

Notes

The different dials of the "Mercator" watches represent the American Continent, and/or Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia and were inspired by a map drawn in 1587 by Gerardus Mercator, famous cartographer and humanist. Produced by Belgian enamelers Lucie and Jean Genbrugge (who also collaborated in the design of the mechanism to control the hour and minute hands), the dial of this lot was carefully chased by hand and then enamelled. The "Mercator" was launched in 1994 to celebrate the 400th annversary of the death of Mercator, the father of modern cartography.