Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York - The Fuller Building, Mar 28, 2007

LOT 320

Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, ?Chronomètre - submited to the Geneva Observatory in 1909?, No. 341181, case No. 208788. Made in 1909. Very fine and rare, hunting-cased, keyless, minute-repeating, 18K yellow gold pocket lever chronometer with chronograph. Accompanied by a copy of the rating certificate from the Geneva Observatory from 1909.

USD 15,000 - 20,000

EUR 11,000 - 15,000

Sold: USD 24,780

C. Four-body, ?bassine?, solid, polished, hinged gold cuvette with inscription. D. White enamel with painted Breguet numerals, outer minute and chronograph divisions, sunk subsidiary seconds dial. Blued steel ?spade? hands. M. Cal. 20???, frosted gilt, 36 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, ?swan-neck? micrometer regulator, visible chronograph works, repeating on gongs by activating slide on the band. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-14

Good

Damaged
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The more complicated a timepiece is, the more difficult it is to adjust, particularly when the movement features complications such as a chronograph, split-seconds function, and/or a register. The additional wheelwork affects the timepiece's functioning, be-cause of the amount of energy it requires - but often only sporadically, when, for example, the chronograph is in use - and because of the friction to which the moving parts of the mechanism - levers, springs, etc. - are subjected. It is therefore exceptional to find a timepiece with so many complications to be submitted to Observatory control.