Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 300

Peninsula Italica Vacheron Constantin, Genève, "Gérard Mercator 1594-1994", No. 798183, case No. 656810, Ref. 43050. Made in two examples in 1995. Very fine and exceptionally rare, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold gentleman?s wristwatch with a cloisonné polychrome enamel map of Italy and the Mediterranean, and an 18K yellow gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 70,000 - 90,000

EUR 44,000 - 57,000 / USD 55,000 - 70,000

Sold: CHF 108,000

C. two-body, solid, polished and brushed, transparent case back with serrated edge, rounded band, stepped bezel, overhanging fluted lugs, sapphire crystals.D. painted in polychrome enamel on a 22K yellow gold plate representing Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica, double sectors graduated from 1 to 12 for the hours and from 0 to 60 for the minutes with painted Arabic numerals and dot indexes. The yellow gold geometrical hands, in the shape of a marine compass, are reminiscent of the one used by the famous cartographer Gerardus Mercator.M. Cal. 1120/2 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, dial signed by the artists, and bearing the name of the owner.Diam. 36 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

Mercator watches The dials of the "Mercator" watches, representing various continents: the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and Asia, were inspired by a map drawn in 1587 by Gerardus Mercator, famous cartographer and humanist. The "Mercator" watch was launched in 1994 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the cartographer?s death, with a series inspired by their 1940s "Geographic Line". Watch No. 1 of a series of 50 pieces was sold by Antiquorum in the thematic sale dedicated to "The Art of Vacheron Constantin", lot 286. The dial of the present watch represents Italy and the Mediterranean region. The dials were executed in the cham-plevé, cloisonné, and painted on enamel techniques by Belgian artists Lucie and Jean Genbrugge. Vacheron Constantin has produced a small number of strictly monitored "Mercator" series, all with 22K gold and enameled dials. On special request, Vacheron Constatin also produced Mercator watches featuring a single region or continent, as well as the Chinese zodiac.