Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, May 10, 2020

LOT 397

Vacheron Constantin - Ref. 6694, self-winding, centre-seconds, date; “Royal Chronometer Automatic”; 18K yellow gold

HKD 69,000 - 86,000

USD 8,800 - 11,000 / EUR 8,000 - 10,000 / CHF 8,800 - 11,000

18K yellow gold, self-winding, round-shaped, gentleman’s wristwatch, water-resistant with screwed case-back, horn-shaped lugs, gold colour dial, centre-seconds and one horological complication: • Instantaneous date of the month (aperture at 3 o’clock) Gold colour dial with radial applied gold lapidated indexes and diamond-set Maltese Cross. Case-back engraved with the mention “Chronomètre Royal” and the Maltese Cross.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3 *
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Vacheron Constantin, Geneva

Model “Royal Chronometer Automatic”

Reference 6694

Year circa 1970-1975

Movement No. 587 526

Case No. 419 745 (by Eggly & Cie, Geneva)

Material 18K yellow gold

Bracelet brown leather strap

Buckle gilded metal buckle

Caliber K1072/1, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, Geneva Quality Hall Mark

Height 40.9 mm.

Width 35 mm.

Signature dial, case and movement

Notes

Vacheron Constantin, “Chronomètre Royal” (Royal Chronometer)
The name “Chronomètre Royal” was registered in Switzerland on May 28, 1907, under the No. 22 193. The “Royal Chronometer” name, for the English-speaking market, was registered in Switzerland on May 8, 1908, under the No. 23 872.
The first of these were a series of pocket watches delivered to Brazil. A certain Mr. A. Campos, one of Vacheron Constantin’s agents, had organized a lottery system in which subscribers would pay a monthly fee to take part in a series of draws. The holders of the winning tickets would be given a watch and the other subscribers would be entered into the next draw. This system proved to be so successful that A. Campos delivered a total of 3 022 watches between October 22, 1907, and December 31, 1911 – an amazing 80% of the production of the “Chronomètre Royal”, utilising the Cal. RA 22’73 made during this period.
As we can read in the Vacheron Constantin Archives, this series of watches was especially made for the South American Market, especially to Argentina.
The “Chronomètre Royal” was made in several sizes, from 12 to 22 lines, and was housed mostly in gold cases, and rarely in silver ones.
Later, in the 1960’s, the trademark was used for some high-quality wristwatches.