Important Watches Wristwatches, and C...

The Furama Hotel Hong Kong, Victoriana Room, Jun 05, 2000

LOT 410

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 404141,case No. 10628 by Verger France, Paris, made for Gübelin, Lucerne, circa 1926.Magnificent 18K gold mounted, onyx, agate, turquoise and nephrite, ruby and emerald set keyless eight-day going table timepiece à cercle tournants designed as a plant in its bowl, protected by a glass cage with four gold ruby-set corners, in a red leather fitted box.

HKD 235,000 - 240,000

USD 30,000 - 35,000

Sold: HKD 345,000

C. Black onyx square terrace standing on four gold feet and set with four ruby beads. Stepped grey agate base topped by four turquoise columns supporting the bowl revolving rim which is applied with black Arabic numerals. The plant with gold trunk bearing emerald leaves and ruby fruit is fixed on nephrite ground, the pointer designed as a ladybird.M. Frosted and gilt full plate rectangular with going barrel, 15, jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted in five position, Breguet balance spring.Signed on the movement. Verger Master mark on the case, the fitted box signed by Gübelin.Dim. 18 x 14 x14 cm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: * 2

Notes

Verger, ParisTwo generations of designers and case makers founded by Ferdinand Verger in 1872, Place des Victoires, Paris. Ferdinand Verger had two sons, Georges and Henri. In 1896 the trademark F.V. was registered. Ferdinand Verger bought from Roux, the firm of Lepine, Place des Victoires, in 1901, and in 1914 he liquidated the remaining stock to Louis Leroy but kept the trademark which was registered again by him in 1917.Successors to their father in 1911, Georges and Henri settled at 51, rue Sainte Anne under the name of Verger France. The Master mark became V.F.They were the agent in Paris for Vacheron & Constantin, not only wholesalers but also designers and case makers. They produced cases for the finest jewellers of the world, including Boucheron, Mauboussin, Ostertag, Tiffany, La Cloche, Van Cleef & Arpels, Gübelin and even Hauser-Zivy y Cia., in Mexico.They employed up to 40 craftsmen in Paris, not only jewellers, to produce cases and to fit the movements, but also watchmakers for the adjustment and after sale service of movements.Some of their models are very original, such as the so-called Bras en l?air, made with a figure of Buddah, of a serpent charmer or of a Mandarin, the famous Radiateur, often sold as a purse clasp, the Montres à volets, produced for Ostertag, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Mauboussin, Gübelin and Tiffany, and the celebrated Montre Cadenas, specially designed for Van Cleef & Arpels.The revival of the fashion for dials and cases with painted miniatures on ivory panels was one of their great success stories.They also were the creators of magnificent clocks, with the dial in pietra dura, and of the outstanding mystery clocks, pride of Vacheron & Constantin, made in the 1920?s and 30?s.Information kindly provided by Mr. Jean-Pierre Brun, Jeweller, in Paris.