Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 187

"Two-Tone Dial" Vacheron & Constantin, Geneve, No. 427940, case No. 280800. Made circa 1940. Fine and rare, elegant ?Staybrite? stainless steel keyless dress watch.

CHF 3,000 - 4,000

EUR 2,000 - 2,600 / USD 2,400 - 3,200

Sold: CHF 3,680

C. Three-body, polished, inclined stepped bezel, rectangular bow. D. Two-tone, silvered, applied yellow gold baton indexes and Arabic quarter hour numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Yellow gold "bâton" hands. M. Caliber 17''', rhodium plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 47 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 6*

Slightly oxidized

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-5-01

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

Staybrite Is the name of a steel alloy containing 0.2% carbon, 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is a stainless material that takes a fine polish and is therefore often used for making watch cases. It is probably the type of stainless steel that has been most widely used by watch companies, from the 1930's onwards. For further examples of Vacheron & Constantin watches with Staybrite cases see: Antiquorum, "The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Constantin", Geneva, April 3, 2005, Chapter VI.