Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 08, 2014

LOT 736

VACHERON CONSTANTIN PLATINUM MERCATOR - AMERICA Vacheron Constantin, Genève, "Gérard Mercator 1594-1994", movement No. 798638, case No. 674078, Ref. 43050. Sold on January 21st, 1997. Very fine and unusual, self-winding, water-resistant, platinum wristwatch with retrograde hands on a hand-engraved white gold dial with a champlevé enamel map of The Americas, with an 18K white gold Vacheron Constantin double deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original Vacheron Constantin box, hang-tag, Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Authenticity, instructions, loup and push-pin.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

HKD 125,000 - 172,000 / USD 16,000 - 21,000

Sold: CHF 33,750

Two-body, solid, polished and brushed, transparent case back with serrated edge, rounded band, stepped bezel, overhanging curved and fluted lugs, sapphire crystals. 22K white gold, signed J. and L. Genbrugge, representing a map in black champlevé enamel of the continent of North and South America, double sectors graduated from 1 to 12 for the hours and from 0 to 60 for the minutes with Arabic numerals and dot indexes. The white gold hands are in the shape of a marine compass, reminiscent of the one used by famous cartographer Gerardus Mercator. Cal. 1120/2 extra-thin, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 36 jewels, stamped with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, straight-line lever escapement, annular beryllium balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring, 21K yellow gold rotor segment bearing the engraving "1594-Gérard Mercator-1994".


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1*

As new

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 8.5 mm. The case of the "Gérard Mercator" watches was inspired by Vacheron Constantin's "Géographique" line, launched at the end of the 1940s. The different dials of the "Mercator" watches represent the American Continent, and/or Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia and were inspired by a map drawn in 1587 by Gerardus Mercator, the famous cartographer and humanist. Belgian enamellers Lucie and Jean Genbrugge collaborated in the design of the mechanism to control the hour and minute hands, as well as producing the dials for the "Mercator" line of watches. The "Gérard Mercator" model was launched by Antiquorum at the sale "The Art of Vacheron & Constantin", held in Geneva on November 13, 1994.