The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Co...

Geneva, Apr 03, 2005

LOT 117

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, ?Chrono-mètre?, No. 454868, case No. 286279. Made for the British Hydrographic Service in 1944. Fine, large, silver, keyless center-seconds deck and pocket lever chronometer with Guillaume balance. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

EUR 4,500 - 6,000 / USD 6,000 - 8,000

Sold: CHF 8,740

C. Four-body, "bassine", polished, silver,hinged cuvette. D. Silver, brushed, champlevéArabic numerals, outer minute divisions. Blued steel"spade" hands. M. Cal. 21'''166, gilt brass, "fausses côtes" decoration,21 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, anibal-brass Guillaume balance with gold timing screws,blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometric regulator.Dial, case and movement signed, case back engraved ?H.S.- 2, 54868?.Diam. 60 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2

Very good

Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

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.