Contemporary, Limited Edition and Col...

New York, Grand Havana Room, May 13, 1999

LOT 42

Vacheron & Constantin, Geneve, Mercator; No. 430501, case No. 673883, 1990's. Very fine, self-winding, waterproof down to 30 m., 42 hours power reserve, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with gold painted dial representing the Continents of Europe, Africa and Asia, with double sector graduated for 12 hours and 60 minutes, with 18K gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp; fitted box and certificate.

C. inspired by the line Geographique launched at the end of the 1940's, massive, polished, stepped bezel, overhanging fluted lugs, sapphire glass back. D. 22K gold dial plates engraved in the shape of the continents and other geographical features as well as the two sectors, then carefully filled with polychrome "cloisonne " enamel to represent the continents, below, the two sectors graduated from 1 to 12 for the hours and from 0 to 60 for the minutes with painted Arabic numerals and indexes. After each course, the hands, thanks to a special system, return to zero after respectively one half day and one hour. The gold "Dauphine" geometrical hands, in the shape of a marine compass, are placed on the 12 rather than at the centre of the dial. This figure is similar to the one that Gerardus Mercator, the famous cartographer, used his life long. M. 12 1/2 ', cal. 1120, extra-flat (2,45 mm. thick), rhodium plated, "fausses cotes " decoration, 36 jewels, lever escapement, annular glucidur balance adjusted for heat, cold isochronism and 5 positions, 19'800 vibrations per hour, hanging barrel, self compensating flat balance-spring, 21K gold rotor engraved 1594 - Gerard Mercator - 1994. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 33 mm.