Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 10, 2015

LOT 484

VACHERON & CONSTANTIN REF. 4737 "CIOCCOLATONE" AUTOMATIC ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN YELLOW GOLD Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Automatic," movement No. 506117, case No. 343308, Ref. 4737. Made circa 1955. Very fine and very rare, large, square, center seconds, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with an 18K yellow gold riveted expandable Gay Freres bracelet with deployant clasp dated for the second quarter of 1964. Accompanied by the original Certificate of Origin dated April 4th, 1955.

CHF 35,000 - 55,000

HKD 285,000 - 440,000 / USD 36,000 - 57,000

Two-body, solid, polished and brushed, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, domed crystal, snap-on back. Satine silver with applied yellow gold dart and pyramid indexes, concentric minute/seconds track. Yellow gold baton hands. Cal. P1019/2, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 21 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, beryllium balance with timing screws, adjusted to temperatures and five positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, swan-neck regulator.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-6-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIM. 35.5 x 43.5 mm. THICKNESS 11 mm. Ref . 4737 is called "cioccolatone" by Italian collectors due to its shape. Several variatons exist, manual winding, Ref. 4822, the self-winding Ref. 4764 and 6440 with calendar and moon phases; Ref. 6440 with center seconds; Ref. 6440Q, with date. These models are one of 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 rarely in white gold.