Important Watches, Collector's Wrist...

Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2001

LOT 298

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Mercator", No. 798415, case No. 673883, Ref. 43050. Produced in 1995.Very fine, self-winding, water-resistant down to 30 m., 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with double retrograde sector graduated for 12 hours and 60 minutes, 42 hours autonomy, an 18K gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp.

C. inspired by the "Géographique" line launched at the end of the 1940's, solid, polished, stepped bezel, overhanging fluted lugs, sapphire glass back and crystal. D. 22K gold dial plates engraved in the shape of the continents and other geographical features as well as the two sectors, with polychrome "cloisonné" enamel to represent the continents, 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. Ater each course, the hands return to zero after respectively one half day and one hour. The geometrical gold "Dauphine" hands, in the shape of a marine compass, are placed on the 12 rather than at the center of the dial. This figure is similar to the one used by Gerardus Mercator, the famous cartographer. M. Cal. 1120, extra-flat, rhodium-plated, ?fausses côtes? decoration, 36 jewels, lever escapement, annular glucidur balance adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, 19'800 vibratios per hour, hanging barrel, self-compensating flat balance-spring, 21K gold rotor bearing the engraving "1594-Gérard Mercator-1994".Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 36 mm.