The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Co...

Geneva, Apr 03, 2005

LOT 153

?Pink Cioccolatone? Vacheron Constantin, Genève, No. 510097, case No. 343352, Ref. 4822. Made in 1954. Extremely fine and very rare, large, curved, ?carré?, center-seconds, 18K pink gold gentleman?s wristwatch with a pink gold Vacheron Constantin buckle. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

CHF 35,000 - 45,000

EUR 23,000 - 30,000 / USD 30,000 - 37,000

Sold: CHF 48,300

C. Two-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, domed thick crystal. D. Silvered,?sunburst?, withapplied pink gold faceted indexes. Pink gold ?bâton? hands. M. Cal. 12???1/2 454, rhodium-plated,?fausses cotes?decoration, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapment, beryllium balance with timing screws, adjusted totemperatures, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator.Dial, case, and movement signed.Dim. 36 x 43 mm. Thickness: 12 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 5 - 01

Notes

Ref. 4822 is called ?cioccolatone? by Italian collectors due to its shape. Several variatons exist, manual winding, Ref. 4822, the self-winding Ref. 4764 and 6440 with calendar and moon phases; Ref. 6440 with center seconds; Ref. 6440Q, with date. These models are the most admired and sought-after wristwatches of the 1950s. Vacheron Constantin, always innovative, was clearly ahead of its time in offering a model so unusual in size and shape. Particularly pleasing was the rounded outline of the case, with its superimposed ?levels?. At the time, it was made in yellow gold, more rarely in pink gold, and only two examples in white gold. It was reintroduced as of 2003 with a guilloche dial, and was launched under the name ?Toledo?, with a platinum case. For a similar watch in white gold, see lot 130, and in yellow gold, see lots 220 and 221.