Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

New York, Sep 24, 2003

LOT 115

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 box, certificate and loup.

USD 13,000 - 15,000

EUR 12,000 - 13,500

Sold: USD 21,275

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, 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 used bythe 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, monometallic balance 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: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

"Mercator watches".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. The "Mercator" was launched in 1994 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Mercator, the father of modern cartography, on the occasion of the thematic auction that Antiquorum dedicated to Vacheron &Constantin in 1994.