Lot Essay
US$50,000-70,000
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Lot 1112 The Property of a Noble Family
VACHERON & CONSTANTIN. A HIGHLY IMPORTANT AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET OPENFACE TOURBILLON WATCH
SIGNED VACHERON & CONSTANTIN, GENEVE, RETAILED BY ASPREY, REF. 92544/000G, MOVEMENT NO. 641497, CASE NO. 464255, MOVEMENT MANUFACTURED IN 1945, CASE MANUFACTURED IN 1993
Details
VACHERON & CONSTANTIN. A HIGHLY IMPORTANT AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET OPENFACE TOURBILLON WATCH
Signed Vacheron & Constantin, Geneve, Retailed by Asprey, Ref. 92544/000G, Movement No. 641497, Case No. 464255, movement manufactured in 1945, case manufactured in 1993
With finely engraved nickel finished three quarter plate lever movement, polished steel three arm tourbillon carriage with bi-metallic compensation balance and ruby endstone, the silvered engine-turned dial with applied Roman numerals, silvered dauphine hands, glazed subsidiary dial for the seconds, the large circular case with trapezoid-cut diamond-set bezel, ribbed band, glazed back, case signed by maker and retailer, dial and movement signed by maker
60 mm. diam.
This watch is accompanied by a Vacheron & Constantin fitted presentation box and Duplicate of Certificate of Origin
Signed Vacheron & Constantin, Geneve, Retailed by Asprey, Ref. 92544/000G, Movement No. 641497, Case No. 464255, movement manufactured in 1945, case manufactured in 1993
With finely engraved nickel finished three quarter plate lever movement, polished steel three arm tourbillon carriage with bi-metallic compensation balance and ruby endstone, the silvered engine-turned dial with applied Roman numerals, silvered dauphine hands, glazed subsidiary dial for the seconds, the large circular case with trapezoid-cut diamond-set bezel, ribbed band, glazed back, case signed by maker and retailer, dial and movement signed by maker
60 mm. diam.
This watch is accompanied by a Vacheron & Constantin fitted presentation box and Duplicate of Certificate of Origin
Further details
This watch was made to special order and we assume that it is a unique piece.
For centuries, watchmakers were concerned about the influence of gravity on the accuracy of mechanical watches. Depending on the position of a watch and consequently the change of its centre of gravity, different variations in the frequency of the balance occur and effect the accuracy of keeping time.
This problem was solved in 1801, when the famous watchmaker
Abraham-Louis Breguet invented and patented a complex mechanism built to compensate such errors, called the tourbillon. The mechanism consisting of a balance, balance spring and escapement is housed inside a carriage, also called a cage, which rotates on its own axis at regular intervals, thus compensating for positional errors caused by gravity.
Although this device is not absolutely necessary for accuracy purposes today, it is still appreciated as a complication of high-quality watches.
For centuries, watchmakers were concerned about the influence of gravity on the accuracy of mechanical watches. Depending on the position of a watch and consequently the change of its centre of gravity, different variations in the frequency of the balance occur and effect the accuracy of keeping time.
This problem was solved in 1801, when the famous watchmaker
Abraham-Louis Breguet invented and patented a complex mechanism built to compensate such errors, called the tourbillon. The mechanism consisting of a balance, balance spring and escapement is housed inside a carriage, also called a cage, which rotates on its own axis at regular intervals, thus compensating for positional errors caused by gravity.
Although this device is not absolutely necessary for accuracy purposes today, it is still appreciated as a complication of high-quality watches.