869
Vacheron Constantin
Ref. 4072
A very rare and the only one known yellow gold double-signed chronograph wristwatch with tachymeter scale, retailed by Bulgari
Full-Cataloguing
- Well-preserved conditon
- Only one known retailed by Bulgari
- Confirmed by the Vacheron Constantin Extract from the Archives
Vacheron Constantin’s reference 4072 can be regarded as one of the most recognizable vintage chronograph wristwatches from the watchmaker. With a production span from 1938 to the early 1970s, despite being one of the watches with the longest production run from their atelier, only 1178 were made. They were made available in 18K yellow gold, pink gold, stainless steel and steel-gold variants. The reference 4072 offered at this auction was manufactured in 1967, supported by the Extract from the Archives, it means this watch belongs to the later batches before the end of production of the reference.
There are obvious variations in the dial of the reference 4072 throughout the production run, with some having a two-toned dial, round indexes and standard numerals, this reference 4072 features a silvered dial with Roman numeral XII and VI and stick indexes unlike older models. The current watch also has a tachymetre, while some may have a telemetre instead. What makes this particular watch special is the double-signed dial, with the indication that the watch was retailed by Bulgari. It is the only double-signed reference 4072 and possibly the only one seen on the market publicly.
The beautifully preserved 18K yellow gold case houses the calibre 13”’ – 492, which replaced the previous calibre 13”’ – 295 and 13”’ – 434. Only a handful of 214 pieces in 18K yellow gold were produced to house this calibre of movement. The present watch also has a 30-minute chronograph sub-dial register instead of a 45-minute one as seen in models with the calibre 13”’ – 295.
For a watch that is almost 70 years old, it is in excellent condition. It is exceptionally impressive as the reference 4072 is such a representable watch for Vacheron Constantin, and this present watch is an extremely rare double-signed item retailed by Bulgari.
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.