The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Co...

Geneva, Apr 03, 2005

LOT 118

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, ?Chrono-mètre?, No. 446025, case No. 282793. Made for the British Hydrographic Service in 1943. Fine, large, silver, keyless deck and pocket lever chronometer. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

EUR 4,000 - 5,000 / USD 5,000 - 7,000

Sold: CHF 9,200

C. Four-body, "bassine", polished, silver,hinged cuvette. D. Silver, brushed, champlevéArabic numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiaryseconds. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. Cal. 21??? 163, rhodium-plated,"fausses côtes" decoration, 20 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensationbalance, Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator.Dial, case and movement signed, case back engraved ?H.S.- 2, 6025?.Diam. 60 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3

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.