Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Jul 10, 2005

LOT 309

So-called "Yellow Cioccolatone" Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Automatic", No. 521957, case No. 348110, Ref. 4737. Made in the 1950s. Very fine and rare, large, "carré galbé", centerseconds, self-winding, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch. Accompanied by the original fitted box.

HKD 125,000 - 165,000

EUR 13,000 - 17,000 / USD 16,000 - 21,000

Sold: HKD 172,500

C. Two-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, roundedlugs, domed thick crystal. D. Satiné silver with appliedyellow gold pyramid and triangular indexes. Yellow gold"bâton" hands. M. Cal. P 1019/2, rhodium-plated,"fausses côtes" decoration, 21 jewels, straight line leverescapement, monometallic balance adjusted to heat, cold,isochronism and 5 positions, self-compensating Breguetbalance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator.Dial, case and movement signed.Dim. 36 x 43 mm. Thickness: 12 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3 - 27 - 01

Notes

Ref. 4737 is called ?cioccolatone? by Italian collectors due to its shape. Several variatons exist: the self-winding Ref. 4764 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.