813Σ︎
Vacheron Constantin
Ref. 43050-000J-17
Mercator, Europa-Asia
A rare and attractive limited edition yellow gold wristwatch with retrograde hours and minutes, polychrome champlevé enamel “Europa-Asia” dial, warranty and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Rare Europa-Asia dial
- Only 7 examples appeared in the auction market
- Fresh-to-the-market
- Complete with its full set of accessories
An unconventional watch with twin retrograde hands in the form of a compass, the Vacheron Constantin Mercator was introduced in 1994, commemorating the 400th anniversary of Gerardus Mercator’s passing.
According to the archives, only 638 pieces were made in those 10 years, with a handful of different variants, depicting different corners of the globe. The Mercator dials are signed with “J&L Genbrugge”– an uncommon practice, considering brands have historically kept enamellers in the shadows.
Much sought-after for its bi-retrograde time display, the centre piece of the watch is no doubt its dial where art and history meet. Drawing from the Mercator Projection, the present example is numbered 20 indicated at 6 o'clock on its dial. According to research, approximately only 50 dials that depicts the hand-crafted champlevé enamel dial of “Europa-Asia” were produced.
Mercator is a true collectable made for style-conscious connoisseurs of exotic and remarkable timepieces. Only 6 examples have ever appear in the market, fresh-to-the-market and accompanied by it full set of accessories, this is the 7th example to appear, and the 3rd earliest dial known besides No. 1 and 10.
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.