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FROM AN IMPORTANT ASIAN COLLECTOR

973Σ

Vacheron Constantin

Ref. 43050

Mercator

A rare and very fine platinum wristwatch with champlevé enamel Taiwan dial, retrograde hands, made to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Gerardus Mercator

Estimate
HK$180,000 - 320,000
€19,800 - 35,200
$23,100 - 41,000
HK$362,500
Lot Details
Manufacturer
Vacheron Constantin
Year
2000
Reference No
43050
Movement No
861'923
Case No
No. 3, 701'496
Model Name
Mercator
Material
Platinum and champlevé enamel
Calibre
Automatic, cal. 1120, 36 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Crocodile
Clasp/Buckle
18K white gold Vacheron Constantin double deployant clasp
Dimensions
36mm. Diameter
Signed
Case, dial and movements signed
Accessories
With wooden Vacheron Constantin fitted presentation box, two Certificates of Authenticity one dated July 21st 2000, Canton of Geneva Certificate of Origin, hang tag, product literature and outer packaging
Catalogue Essay
Vacheron Constantin’s Mercator collection celebrates the life and times of Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) a Renaissance man with interests in geography and geometry. He was a known cartographer whose maps changed the way man viewed his surroundings.

The Mercator with champlevé enamel dial was made in collaboration with Jean and Lucie Genbrugge, Belgium enamellers whose names are featured on the dial. Various dials were made using original maps by Gerard Mercator as inspiration. The present watch features a map of the South China Sea, with Taiwan and the eastern coast of China. In lovely original condition and with box and papers, this collector’s watch is a tribute to both Mercator and the technical expertise of Vacheron Constantin.

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.
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