Vacheron Constantin - The Geneva Watch Auction: XI Geneva Sunday, June 28, 2020 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Vacheron Constantin
    Year: 2001
    Reference No: 30010/000P
    Movement No: 927'919
    Case No: 634'553
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 1755, 30 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather strap
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Vacheron Constantin pin buckle
    Dimensions: 36.5m Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Certificate of Origin dated December 14, 2001, additional engraved solid caseback, additional Vacheron Constantin platinum double deployant clasp, copy of the Warranty stamped by Wempe and dated January 19, 2002, numbered envelope, product literature, Wempe red envelope and massive wooden presentation box. Furthermore delivered with Vacheron Constantin Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 2001

  • Catalogue Essay

    Vacheron Constantin is the watchmaking brand with the longest continuous history, its foundation dating back to 1755. During its multi-century history, the brand has created some of the most exquisitely refined timepieces ever devised, a trend that has not stopped in recent times, as the present timepiece perfectly exemplifies.

    Minute repeating watches are counted among of the most difficult timepieces to assemble, requiring enormous skill and equally copious amount of time. Only the most proficient watchmakers and watchmaking brand can achieve this complication, and in very scarce numbers. For example, caliber 1755 - the one powering this watch - has been made in 200 pieces only. However, not all of them were employed on the present model, but some found their way into perpetual calendar reference 30020 and 30040, or skeletonized ref. 30030. Only a fraction was used for the time only version - unarguably the most understated of the ensemble and one of the most elegant, thanks to its minimalist dial nearly completely devoid of scales but featuring an extremely suave two-tone finish. In depth research of the model unveiled the extreme scarcity of the reference in general, but - most importantly - of this specific platinum version in particular: only 18 such pieces have ever been made by the firm.

    Denoting the enormous amount of attention the firm dedicated to the development and execution of this watch, the dial is realised from a piece of solid gold and the piece comes with two casebacks: a glazed one allowing the beholder to enjoy the spectacularly finished movement, and a solid one engraved with a geometric motif, Vacheron Constantin signature, case number and an additional blank cartouche which was intended to house the name of the owner (or a similar engraving), option which was not adopted by the original owner who left the space blank. It is noteworthy to mention that each one of these watches is technically unique, as the engraving on the solid caseback is specific to every single one, with no two pieces bearing the same motif.

    Building upon its rarity and charm, the present example furthermore comes with a plethora of accessories that categorises this specimen as one of the most complete examples to ever appear at auction: not only it features the certificate of origin, additional caseback and box - already enough to warm the hearts of discerning collectors - but it even features copy of the original purchase invoice, from which one can learn the watch was originally sold by one of the most renowned retailers in Europe: German based “Wempe”

  • 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.

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Ref. 30010/000P
An exceptional and extremely elegant limited edition platinum minute repeating wristwatch

2001
36.5m Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF70,000 - 140,000 
€64,900-130,000
$76,500-153,000

Sold for CHF143,750

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XI

Geneva Auction 27 - 28 June 2020