The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Co...

Geneva, Apr 03, 2005

LOT 221

?Yellow Cioccolatone? Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 506118, case No. 343309, Ref. 4737. Made in 1953. Very fine and rare, large, square, center-seconds, self-winding, 18K yellow gold gentleman?s wristwatch with an 18K yellow gold Vacheron & Constantin buckle. Accompanied by the original fitted box and a Certificate of Authenticity.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

EUR 25,000 - 32,000 / USD 35,000 - 42,000

Sold: CHF 43,700

C. Two-body, curved, solid, polished, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, thick domed crystal. D. Matte gilt with appliedyellow gold pyramidal and triangular indexes. Yellow gold "Bâton" hands. M. Cal. 12??? 499 aut., rhodium-plated,"fausses-côtes" decoration, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, beryllium balance with timing screws,adjusted to temperatures, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometerregulator.Dial, case and movement signed.Dim. 35 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 - 27 - 01

Notes

Ref. 4737 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 an similar watch in white gold, see lot 130, and in pink gold, see lots 153 and 154.