Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 337

?Eiffel Tower? Vacheron & Constantin, Geèeve, No. 48560, case No. 342406, Ref. 6017. Made in 1941. Very fine and very rare, rectangular, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch. Accompanied by a Vacheron & Constantin certificate.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

EUR 3,200 - 4,500 / USD 4,000 - 5,700

Sold: CHF 10,005

C. Two-body, rectangular, polished and brushed, flared down-swept lugs. D. Matte silvered with applied yellow gold dot and dart indexes, subsidiary seconds. Yellow gold ?baton? hands. M. Cal. V435, 11''', lozenge shaped, rhodium plated, ?fausses cotes? decoration, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, glucidur balance adjusted to temperatures, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 36 x 27 mm. Thickness 8 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 4737 & Ref. 6440Q This reference 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.