100 Years of Wristwatches

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 19, 2000

LOT 75

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 414851, case No. 12782 by Verger Frères à Paris, circa 1930.Extremely rare and fine 'montre à volets', square, 18K white and yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch withconcealed dial by shutters, and two crowns. Accompanied by an 18K gold buckle. Accompanied bycertificate and box.

CHF 70,000 - 80,000

USD 42,000 - 48,000

C. three-body, bicolor, solid, polished and brushed, hours in stylized Arabic numerals and triangular indexespainted on the white gold bezel, white gold lapidated lugs and case back, yellow gold band and shutters openingby the means of a crown at 9 o'clock. D. matte silver with painted indexes. 'Breguet' blued steel hands. M. 9'''rhodium plated, 15 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, Breguet balancespring.Signed on the movement, numbered and stamped on the case.Dim. 26 x 26 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

A similar watch is published in' L'Univers de Vacheron Constantin' by CAROLE LAMBELET and LORETTE COEN, EditionScriptar S.A., Genève, 1992, p. 389..Verger, ParisTwo generations of designers and casemakers were founded by Ferdinand Verger in 1872, in the Place des Victoires inParis. Ferdinand Verger bought the firm of Lepine in the Place des Victoires from Roux in 1901. In 1914 he sold theremaining stock to Louis Leroy but kept the trade mark which he again registered in 1917. In 1911, the firm moved to51 rue Sainte Anne under the name of Verger Frères. The master-mark became 'V.F.' They were theParis agents for Vacheron & Constantin, buying movements and making cases for the French market. They made watchcases and jewels for the finest jewelers of the world, including Boucheron, Mauboussin, Ostertag, Tiffany, La Cloche,Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.Some of their models are very original, such as the so-called 'Bras en l'air' made with a figure of Buddah or of aMandarin, the famous 'Radiateur', often sold as a purse clasp, the 'Montres à Volets', produced for Ostertag, VanCleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Mauboussin, Gübelin, and Tiffany, and the celebrated 'Montre Cadenas', specially designedfor Van Cleef & Arpels. They also were the creators of the outstanding mystery clocks, the pride of Cartier in the 1920'sand 30's.