The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Co...

Geneva, Apr 03, 2005

LOT 236

?Astronomic? Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 521477, case No. 342392, Ref. 6013. Made in 1955, London import marks for 1956-1957. Very fine and rare, thin, astronomic, keyless, 18K yellow gold dress watch with perpetual calendar and phases and age of the moon. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

CHF 40,000 - 60,000

EUR 25,000 - 40,000 / USD 35,000 - 50,000

Sold: CHF 71,300

C. Three-body, ?variée?, solid, polished and brushed. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold Arabic numerals,outer minute divisions, sunk subsidiary dials for the days of the week, the months, the leap year and the date,subsidiary seconds with aperture for the moon phases and lunar age sector. Gold ?bâton? hands. M. Cal. 17???U.Q.P., rhodium plated, ?fausses cotes? decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetalliccompensation balance adjusted to temperature and two positions, Breguet balance-spring, swan-neckmicrometer regulator.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

This astronomic dress watch, in exceptionally good condition, demonstrates yet again Vacheron Constantin?s ability to incorporate several important complcations in a case that is both elegant and relatively thin. A similar watch is illustrated on page 228 of ?The World of Vacheron Constantin?. It is a rare privilege to be able to admire such a large and richly diverse selection of watch cases. This overview, in addition to the tremendous pleasure it affords us, also offers great insight into the evolution of horological design, and in particular that of the lugs and the dial. The next seven lots offer a clear illustration of how, despite its relatively small dimensions, the watch is able to mobilize so many treasures of artistic invention. Giving free reign to their imaginations, inventing innovative forms, and designing dials of extraordinary beauty and creativity, Vacheron Constantin and a few other firms such as Patek Philippe, produced marvels of technical and artistic creativity, and at the same time, consecrated the city of Geneva as the center of haute horlogerie.