Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jun 27, 2015

LOT 570

VACHERON CONSTANTIN GERARD MERCATOR 1594 - 1994 PLATINUM Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Gerard Mercator 1594 - 1994", No. 1, movement No. 861873, case No. 674117, Ref. 43050. Made in 2000. Very fine and extremely rare, self-winding, water-resistant, platinum wristwatch with multi-colored polychrome cloisonné enamel dial repreenting the Asian Pacific Rim(Taiwan and the East coast of China) with double retrograde sectors graduated for 12 hours and 60 minutes, with an 18K white gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp. Accompanied by a fitted box, Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Authenticity, booklet and hang tag.

HKD 200,000 - 290,000

USD 26,000 - 37,000 / CHF 24,000 - 35,000

Sold: HKD 275,000

Two-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, overhanging curved and fluted lugs, sapphire crystals. 22K gold dial plates with gold partitions in the shape of the geographical features as well as the two sectors, carefully filled with poly- chrome "cloisonné" enamel to represent the Asian map, below, the two retrograde sectors graduated from 1 to 12 for the hours and from 0 to 60 for the minutes with painted Arabic numerals and indexes. The white gold hands are in the shape of a marine compass, reminiscent of the one used by famous cartographer Gerardus Mercator. Cal. K 1120, extra-thin, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 36 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, self-compensating free-sprung flat balance-spring, 21K gold rotor segment bearing the engraving "1594 - Gerard Mercator - 1994".


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2*

Very good

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 GERARD MERCATOR TIMEPIECES was inspired by the "Géographique" line launched at the end of the 1940's. 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. The dial of this lot is one of the rarest and most exclusive among the different versions. Produced by Belgian enamellers Lucie and Jean Genbrugge (who also collaborated in the design of the mechanism to control the hour and minute hands), it was carefully laid out by hand with extremely fine gold thread and then enameled in many layers .This is a tedious and time consuming process, which requires extremely skilled hands.