The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Co...

Geneva, Apr 03, 2005

LOT 227

?Triple Complication? Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 511624, case No. 360509, Ref. 6526. Made in 1964. Very fine and important 18K yellow gold, astronomical, keyless, slim minute-repeating dress watch with perpetual calendar, phases and age of the moon, split-seconds chronograph and progressive 30-minute register. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

CHF 200,000 - 250,000

EUR 130,000 - 160,000 / USD 170,000 - 210,000

C. Three-body, "variée", polished and satiné with beveled bezels. D. Matte silver with applied gold indexes, outerminute/second track and fifth second timing scale, sunk subsidiary dials for days of the week, months of the leapyear cycle with outer minute register, date, and seconds/lunar age with inner moon phase aperture. Gold "bâton"hands. M. Cal. 17??? JSMCCRVQ, rhodium plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 36 jewels, straight line leverescapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, Breguetbalance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Repeating on gongs via slide in the band. Split secondschronograph with visible work, operated by means of the winding crown with push piece in the band.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 51 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Ref. 6526 Vacheron Constantin made six examples of this Reference, nos. 511622 - 511627; the present watch is the third of the series. No. 511623 is illustrated on page 233 of ?The World of Vacheron Constantin?. The triple complication watch was undoubtedly the most successful model for over 80 years. From 1880 to approximately the end of the 60s, it was the symbol of Swiss horological mastery. Produced by only a very few great watchmaking companies such as Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. It was intended for a elegant and demanding clientele; as a timekeeping instrument of great precision, usefulness, and dependability. The difficulty was not just in the execution of the complications, but in fitting them into a case so slim.