Vacheron Constantin. An unusual 18K gold ultra slim openface keyless lever dress watch

This lot is offered without reserve.

The following six lots, numbers 377 to 382, represent a selection of rare and unusual timepieces made by the renowned house of Cartier. Cartier, founded by the master jeweler Louis-François Cartier in Paris in 1847, has always been a synonym for elegance and beauty. It was also Louis Cartier who, in the early 1900s, was the first jeweler to create platinum jewellery which he used in his "Garland" creations and to enhance the brilliance of diamonds. Cartier's debut with wristwatches was in 1904 when Louis designed a model for the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos Dumont which apparently was also the first wristwatch fitted with a leather bracelet. In 1906 Cartier designed the world's first jeweled wristwatches, the tonneau or "tortue" case form immediately became a standard in luxury watch design and was adopted by all other leading watch manufacturers. In 1905, Cartier, who at the time had been a client of Edmond Jaeger for several years already, signed an exclusive contract with the renowned Parisian watchmaker. The association combining an artist and a technician proved extremely successful and resulted in the production of Cartier's most astonishing watch designs. The celebrated Tank wristwatch was introduced in 1917 and is still today a highly regarded classic. Louis Cartier designed the model as a tribute to the Allied tank commanders who assisted France during World War I. The sober yet elegant case form was modeled after the shape of the tanks themselves. Still today Cartier enjoys the reputation of "the Jeweller of Kings and the King of Jewellers".

Vacheron Constantin. An unusual 18K gold ultra slim openface keyless lever dress watch

SIGNED VACHERON CONSTANTIN, GENEVE, RETAILED BY CARTIER, PARIS, MOVEMENT NO. 547'813, CASE NO. 372'922, REF. 6345, MANUFACTURED IN 1960

Details

Vacheron Constantin. An unusual 18K gold ultra slim openface keyless lever dress watch
Signed Vacheron Constantin, Geneve, retailed by Cartier, Paris, movement no. 547'813, case no. 372'922, ref. 6345, manufactured in 1960
Cal. 1003 nickel-finished lever movement stamped with the Geneva seal, 17 jewels, the gilt brushed dial with black enamel Roman numerals, in circular ultra slim case with enlarged bezel, snap on back, case signed Vacheron Constantin, stamped EJ for Edmond Jaeger, Cartier reference number 922 and Paris, bow stamped with Cartier reference number 015741, dial signed Cartier, movement signed Vacheron Constantin
42 mm. diam.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Lot Essay

According to the Archives of Vacheron Constantin, the present watch was sold in 1960 to Jaeger in Paris.

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