The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Co...

Geneva, Apr 03, 2005

LOT 47

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 497740, case No. 336479, Ref. 4348. Made in 1953 and presented as an inauguration gift to Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines 1953-1957. Very fine and rare aluminum keyless dress watch. Accompanied by a Certficate of Authenticity.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

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

Sold: CHF 9,200

C. Three-piece, ?bassine?, polished and matted with presentation engraving on the back ?Ramon Magsaysay,President, Dec. 30, 1953?. D. Matte aluminum with applied polished aluminum Breguet numerals, outer minutetrack, subsidiary seconds. Polished aluminum ?Breguet? hands. M. Cal. 439/7, aluminum, ?fausses côtes?decoration, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, adjusted to tempe-rature,Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 45 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

Ramon F. Magsaysay (1907-57) Was president of the Philippines from 1953 to 1957. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1941, he joined the army and was commissioned a captain. A guerrilla leader throughout the Japanese occupation, he was named military governor of Zambales province by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in 1945. While serving in the Philippine Congress (1946-50), Magsaysay presented a plan for subduing the Hukbalahap (Huk) guerrillas, which led to his appointment as secretary of national defense by President Elpidio Quirino. He reformed the army, captured the top members of the Communist party, and fought the Huks, combining strong military action with a land resettlement program. After a dispute with President Quirino, however, Magsaysay resigned from his post (1953). He left the ruling Liberal party and ran for president on the Nationalist ticket, defeating Quirino by a large majority. As president, he cooperated closely with the United States and pursued a program of land and governmental reform. He was favored to win reelection to a second term, but died in an airplane crash in 1957, before the election. For a note see Chapter III, Watches with Aluminum Cases.