59
Vacheron Constantin
Ref. 43050
Mercator
An avant garde and ingenious yellow gold wristwatch with retrograde hours and minutes hands, engraved dial representing the map of Europe/Asia/Africa, made to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Gerardus Mercator with guarantee and box
- Estimate
- CHF15,000 - 30,000€16,000 - 31,900$17,400 - 34,900
CHF40,640
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Vacheron Constantin
- Year
- Circa 1996
- Reference No
- 43050
- Movement No
- 799'037
- Case No
- 684'410
- Model Name
- Mercator
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1120/2, 36 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 36mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Vacheron Constantin fitted wooden box, Certificate of Authenticity and handling instructions, a booklet on the history of Mercator, user's manual, loupe, hang tag and outer packaging.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Launched in 1994 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the celebrated Flemish/German cartographer’s passing, Gerard Mercator (1512-1594), Vacheron Constantin’s Mercator was an incredibly avant-garde timepiece for its epoch and one of horology’s very first double retrograde indications in a wristwatch.
Directly inspired by the double retrograde hands of the Bras en l’Air models of the 30s, the Mercator is one of the timepieces from the 1990s that best represents Vacheron Constantin's ethos of the time: a mix of high horology and métiers d’art with a dash of audacity.
Originally launched as a limited edition featuring cloisonné enamel dials representing the Americas or Europe/Asia/Africa, the brand soon presented examples with engraved dials featuring the same maps. Housing the extra flat caliber 1120, modified for a bi-retrograde time indication, the hands progress divergently across two arc-shaped zones, one graduated from 1 to 12 hours and the other from 0 to 60 minutes. Each hand returns instantly to zero on exactly completing one half day and one hour respectively. The hands themselves are styled like compass legs, reminiscent of the early hand-held compasses such as the ones which Mercator used throughout his life.
The present Mercator with engraved dial (justly reminiscent of an old parchment) represents the map of Europe/Asia/Africa as drawn by Mercator. The present watch in overall excellent condition is offered by its original owner and is complete with its full set of accessories.
Directly inspired by the double retrograde hands of the Bras en l’Air models of the 30s, the Mercator is one of the timepieces from the 1990s that best represents Vacheron Constantin's ethos of the time: a mix of high horology and métiers d’art with a dash of audacity.
Originally launched as a limited edition featuring cloisonné enamel dials representing the Americas or Europe/Asia/Africa, the brand soon presented examples with engraved dials featuring the same maps. Housing the extra flat caliber 1120, modified for a bi-retrograde time indication, the hands progress divergently across two arc-shaped zones, one graduated from 1 to 12 hours and the other from 0 to 60 minutes. Each hand returns instantly to zero on exactly completing one half day and one hour respectively. The hands themselves are styled like compass legs, reminiscent of the early hand-held compasses such as the ones which Mercator used throughout his life.
The present Mercator with engraved dial (justly reminiscent of an old parchment) represents the map of Europe/Asia/Africa as drawn by Mercator. The present watch in overall excellent condition is offered by its original owner and is complete with its full set of accessories.
Vacheron Constantin
Swiss | 1755The 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.
Browse MakerKey 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.