Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 143

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 628 908, ébauche produced in 1929, finished circa 2000. Exceptional, macassar wood, gold, black onyx-set, 30 day going, double-barrel, “remontoire”, skeletonized clock in original leather fitted box and traveling case.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

EUR 39,000 - 52,000

Sold: CHF 65,550

C. Rectangular with canted top corners, glazed on all sides, the glass on the back fitted with 3 gold onyx-set shuttered winding and setting apertures, wooded frames with gold borders, molded base with gold border fitted with a small drawer for gold setting and winding keys. D. Painted on the inside of the front glass, Arabic numerals in rectangular black-painted frame with canted corners. Black “lozenge” hands. M. Magnificently finished, skeletonized and engraved, double-barrel, entire train and the escapement jeweled, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, “remontoire d'égalité” with constant force applied to the escape wheel via a spiral spring which is wound by the going train.Signed on case and movement.Dim: Height 25 cm, width 20 cm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3 - 01-

Notes

According to the Vacheron Constantin archives, twelve ebauches were produced in 1929, with a long-duration, double-barrel, special “remontoire” with straight lever escapement. Only five are known to have been finished. Three, completed in 1932 and 1933, are illustrated in “l'Univers de Vacheron Constantin” by Carole Lambelet and Lorette Coen, Genève, p. 396, 398 and 399. Two were cased in the 1990s. The present clock is one of them.