Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 257

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 454901, case No. 286297, made for the British Hydrographic Service, in 1940. Very fine and rare silver, keyless large center seconds deck and pocket chronometer. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 8,000 - 12,000

EUR 5,000 - 7,600 / USD 6,000 - 9,400

Sold: CHF 18,400

C. Four-body, "bassine", polished, silver, hinged cuvette.D. Silver, champlevé Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost seconds track divided into fifths. Blued steel "spade" hands.M. 47.4 mm (21'''), gilt brass, Cal. 166, gilt brass, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, anibal-brass Guillaume balance with special alloy Breguet balance spring, "swan-neck" micrometric regulator.Signed on dial, case and movement, back of the case engraved H.S.- 2 54901.Diam. 60 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

An excellent example of a Vacheron Constantin deck chronometer made for the British Hydrographic Service, excellently finished and in very good condition.The British Hydrographic Service was established in 1795. The worldwide pre-eminence of the Royal Navy in the 19th century meant that Admiralty charts became the global standard for all ships, whether warships or merchantmen. The Service was the surveying arm of the Royal Navy. It acquired top-level recognition early in the 19th century, when the Hydrographer of the Navy, Thomas Hurd, persuaded the Admiralty that their charts should go on general sale, and that surveys at sea would best be carried out by Royal Navy ships. For surveying purposes, the Service needed top timekeepers, such as the present lot. For a note on the Guillaume balance, see lot 256.