Vacheron Constantin - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT Hong Kong Monday, May 27, 2019 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Vacheron Constantin
    Year: 1998
    Reference No: 57215
    Movement No: 835’332
    Case No: 645’116
    Material: 18k yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 1705, 17 jewels
    Dimensions: 55mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Vacheron Constantin International Warranty signed Friedrich GMBH Frankfurt and dated February 3, 1999, setting pin and product literature.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Complicated timepieces have always fascinated watch literati with their exquisite movements and technical advancements. The perpetual calendar mechanism has a long history in traditional watchmaking reaching back to the 18th century when Thomas Mudge created the earliest known example in 1762. It would be almost another 100 years before the complication came in to its own and by the mid-19th century watch brands like Patek Philippe and Breguet were experimenting with the perpetual calendar mechanisms. Patek Philippe became the first manufacturer to add the complication to a wristwatch. Unlike traditional triple calendar timepieces, the perpetual calendar is a marvel of wheels and gears that accounts for the varying days of different months from 28 days in February to 31 days in others. When kept running this unique complication will correct for the addition day in the 4th year of the cycle, February 29th.

    The present watch comes from Vacheron Constantin’s “Complication” line introduced in 1993. The heavy hunter case watch weighs an impressive 237 grams and has a modern clean design. The silvered dial features four subsidiary dials for day, date, moon phases with lunar calendar and month with leap year indication. It is easily readable and the maker added date correctors to the case so that the watch is readily corrected should one forget to wind the watch. In lovely overall condition, this is a rare opportunity to own an exquisite perpetual calendar pocket watch. It has been said Vacheron Constantin only made these watch available by order and therefore production numbers are considered to be very limited.

  • Artist Biography

    Vacheron Constantin

    Swiss • 1755

    The world's oldest watch brand in continuous operation since its founding in 1755, Vacheron Constantin was the first watch company to manufacture movements with interchangeable parts beginning in 1839. Vacheron's watches are admired for their Latin-influenced case designs, well-balanced proportions and exquisitely finished movements of the highest quality. The Geneva-based manufacturer is known for their highly complicated masterpieces, including the King Farouk Grand Complication made in 1935, the Tour de l'Ile that was the most complicated serially produced wristwatch when introduced in 2005 and the 57260 — the world’s most complicated watch — made in 2015.

    Key vintage models include minute repeating wristwatches such as the references 4261, chronographs such as the references 4178 and 6087 and the oversized Cioccolotone models such as ref. 4737. Collectors also appreciate Vacheron's Chronometer Royal pocket and wristwatches, as well as the '222,' the brand's first luxury sports watch produced from 1977 through 1984.

    View More Works

993

Ref. 57215
A very fine and heavy yellow gold perpetual calendar hunter case pocket watch with moon phases, with international warranty and setting pin

1998
55mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$220,000 - 320,000 
€24,800-36,100
$28,200-41,000

Sold for HK$337,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
thomasperazzi@phillips.com
+852 2318 2001

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT

Hong Kong Auction 28 May 2019