Important Collector's Wristwatches an...

New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, May 11, 1998

LOT 121

Vacheron & Constantin, Geneve, "Mercator", No. 45, No. 798495, case No. 674013, completed on 23 October 1996. Exceptionally fine, self-winding, waterproof down to 30 m., 42 hours power reserve, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with champleve "cloisonne" enamel dial representing the Continents Europe, Africa and Asia, with double sector graduated for 12 hours and 60 minutes, with 18K gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp, a solid mahogany fitted box's elm-bur veneer, a solid brass magnifying glass and the certificate.

USD 40,000 - 45,000

C. inspired by the line "Geographique" launched at the end of the 1940 ' s, massive, polished, stepped bezel, overhanging fluted lugs, sapphire glass back. D. 22K gold dial plates engraved in the shape of the continents and other geographical features as well as the two sectors, then carefully filled with polychrome "cloisonne " enamel to represent the continents, below, the two sectors graduated from 1 to 12 for the hours and from 0 to 60 for the minutes with painted Arabic numerals and indexes. After each course, the hands, thanks to a special system, return to zero after, respectively, one half clay and one hour. The gold "Dauphine " geometrical hands, in shape of a marine compass, are placed on the 12 rather than at the centre of the dial. This figure is similar to the one that Gerardus Mercator, the famous cartographer, used all his life. M. 12 1/2"', cal. 1120, extra-fiat (2,45 mm. thick), rhodium plated, "fausses cotes" decoration, 36 jewels, lever escapement, annular glucidur balance adjusted for heat, cold isochronism and 5 positions, 19'800 vibrations per hour, hanging barrel, selfcompensating flat balance-spring, 21K gold rotor bearing the engraving "1594 - Gerard Mercator - 1994". Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 33 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-51

As new

Partially reprinted

Notes

This watch No. 45 is part of a limited edition of 50 examples, made in November 1994, with enamelled dials representing the American Continent, or Europe, Africa and Asia, according to a map drawn by Gerardus Mercator in 1587 and reproduced by Lucie and jean Genbrugge, enamellers, of Brocchem Belgium. An attractive biography of the famous cartographer and humanist is provided in a leaflet with the watch. The No. 1 of this series was sold by Antiquorum in the thematic sale "The Art of the Vacheron Constantin" in Geneva, 13 November 1994, lot 286.