Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Oct 15, 2006

LOT 52

Ref. 4737, So-Called ?Yellow Cioccolatone? Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 522106, case No. 349853, Ref. 4737. Made in 1955. Very fine and rare, large, square, center-seconds, self-winding, 18K yellow gold gentleman?s wristwatch.

CHF 25,000 - 30,000

EUR 16,000 - 20,000 / USD 20,000 - 25,000

Sold: CHF 43,070

C. Two-body, curved, solid, polished, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, thick domed crystal, back engraved with an Earl?s crown bearing the initials ?J.H.F.?. D. Two-tone silver with applied yellow gold pyramidal and triangular indexes. Yellow gold "Bâton" hands. M. Cal. 12??? P1019, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 21 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, beryllium balance with timing screws, adjusted to temperatures, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 43 x 35 mm. Thickness 12 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 Is called ?Cioccolatone? by Italian collectors due to its shape. Several variations 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 guilloché dial and a platinum case and was launched under the name ?Toledo?.