Lot Essay
US$140,000-250,000
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The term masterpiece is applied to a single piece of master craftsmanship. The present watch represents a true masterpiece in collaboration of these three great firms. Upon combining their skill, technique and superior levels of manufacture, Vacheron Constantin, Verger Frères and Ostertag produced this stunning necklace; a truly one of a kind piece of art, jewelry and horology.
Founded in 1755 Vacheron Constantin stands as the oldest watch manufacturing company in Geneva. Over the years of its uninterrupted production Vacheron Constantin remained dedicated to being at the forefront of technical innovations and design as the company motto indicates, "Do better if possible and that is always possible".
The name "Verger Frères", a synonym for watches, clocks and jewelery of unparalleled creativity and design, inevitably evokes the ever popular Art Deco period. The celebrated house was founded in Paris in 1872 by the talented jeweler and watchmaker Ferdinand Verger (1851-1928). His sons Georges and Henri, as gifted as their father, joined the firm which, in 1911, was renamed Verger Frères, introducing the famous trademark "VF" in a lozenge-shaped stamp, the acknowledged mark for the most esteemed Art Deco pieces. In the years to follow, the manufacture reached its peak, excelling in the production of the most creative designs of the period. Verger Frères creations are distinguished by their innovative use of precious materials and the outstanding workmanship of their watches, clocks, stands, jewellery and frames. Although often associated with Vacheron & Constantin, Verger also worked with all of the great houses of the time, among them Ostertag, Van Cleef & Arpels, Janesich, Lacloche, Jaeger and Boucheron in Europe, and Tiffany, Black, Starr & Frost, Spalding & Co. and J. E. Caldwell in the United States, just to name some.
Verger's partnership with Vacheron & Constantin started as early as 1879 when Ferdinand became the agent of the Geneva firm in Paris. The combination of the watch manufacturer's technical know-how and Verger's outstanding creativity and skillfulness resulted in the creation of extraordinary watches and clocks, such as the present necklace watch, standing out by its superb design and quality.
To add a further level of interesting manufacturing provenance the present necklace remains a collaboration of three. The French jeweler Ostertag was founded in the 1920's by Arnold Ostertag. They were located in Paris, at number 16 Place Vend?me close to all the other important jewelry houses of the day. During the 1920s and 1930s, Ostertag's creations were world renown rivaling the creations of the often more celebrated jewelry houses of Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Boucheron. They were especially well-known for their jewelery and objets d'art based on Asian and Indian designs. With an eye on the oriental market, their designs manifested in a wide variety of combined influences from Islamic culture to that of Asia and India. Emeralds, Carved rubies, and sapphires often imported from all over world were interspersed with diamonds and arranged into impressive unique pieces crafted at the highest known level of their day and frequently purchased by the world's elite clientele which ranged from empresses, kings, dukes and celebrities. Several renowned Parisian jewelers, led by Cartier, Mauboussin and Arnold Ostertag, excelled in these compositions and were asked to commission masterpieces in collaboration with other world renown jewelry and timepiece houses of their time, one of which is featured above. Due to the Second World War, wherein Ostertag closed their doors never to open again, few pieces remain, leaving few pieces today.
This masterpiece represents a true ingenious collaboration by three of the most respected names in the fields of horology, jewelry and design. A rare find to be admired and treasured highly.
VACHERON CONSTANTIN, VERGER FRERES AND OSTERTAG. A MAGNIFICENT, PLATINUM, EMERALD AND DIAMOND ART DECO NECKLACE WITH WATCH, MANUFACTURED IN 1927
SIGNED VACHERON CONSTANTIN, MOVEMENT NO.403'679, CASE NO. 10 313, CASE DESIGNED BY VERGER FRERES AND RETAILED BY OSTERAG, PARIS
Details
VACHERON CONSTANTIN, VERGER FRERES AND OSTERTAG. A MAGNIFICENT, PLATINUM, EMERALD AND DIAMOND ART DECO NECKLACE WITH WATCH, MANUFACTURED IN 1927
SIGNED VACHERON CONSTANTIN, MOVEMENT NO.403'679, CASE NO. 10 313, CASE DESIGNED BY VERGER FRERES AND RETAILED BY OSTERAG, PARIS
Mechanical lever movement, silvered dial, Arabic numerals, the dial surrounded by two Art Deco-style geometric panels at top and bottom, the rectangular case with curved bottom set with single-cut diamonds, surmounted by the stepped bow comprising rectangular-cut diamonds, single-cut diamonds, 1 bullet-shaped diamond at the center and 4 natural emerald beads, natural cabochon emerald-set crown, the chain comprised of brilliant-cut diamonds, old European-cut diamonds, bullet-shaped diamonds, rectangular-cut diamonds and natural emerald beads, movement signed and numbered, case numbered, dial signed by the retailer, stamped with assay marks
24 mm. length
SIGNED VACHERON CONSTANTIN, MOVEMENT NO.403'679, CASE NO. 10 313, CASE DESIGNED BY VERGER FRERES AND RETAILED BY OSTERAG, PARIS
Mechanical lever movement, silvered dial, Arabic numerals, the dial surrounded by two Art Deco-style geometric panels at top and bottom, the rectangular case with curved bottom set with single-cut diamonds, surmounted by the stepped bow comprising rectangular-cut diamonds, single-cut diamonds, 1 bullet-shaped diamond at the center and 4 natural emerald beads, natural cabochon emerald-set crown, the chain comprised of brilliant-cut diamonds, old European-cut diamonds, bullet-shaped diamonds, rectangular-cut diamonds and natural emerald beads, movement signed and numbered, case numbered, dial signed by the retailer, stamped with assay marks
24 mm. length
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