製造商: Vacheron Constantin 年份: Circa 2010 型號: 47070 機芯編號: 949'704 錶殼號碼: 798'597 型號名稱: Hommage Aux Grands Explorateurs "Fernand de Magellan" 材料: 18K yellow gold 機芯: Automatic, cal. 1126. 26 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Leather 錶扣: 18K yellow gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp 尺寸: 40mm Diameter 簽名: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed 配件: Accompanied by Vacheron Constantin fitted box, Certificate of Origin and Guarantee, product literature, loupe, hang tag, DVD and outer packaging.
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Throughout close to 270 years Vacheron Constantin has always experimented with alternative time displays in pocket or wristwatch format. In 1994, the famed Geneva brand took the horological world by storm when it launched the Mercator, a surprising collection of timepieces featuring a dial depicting old maps of Eurasia or the Americas, and two retrograde hands in the form of a compass acting as the hour and minutes indicators. Following the Mercator’s critical and commercial success, Vacheron Constantin launched the Hommage Aux Grands Explorateurs (Tribute to the Great Explorers) in 2004. A series of four watches, limited to 60 pieces each, the watches were made with a two level dial construction representing the travels of a famous explorer. The present example is dedicated to Fernando de Magellan, who in 1519, commanding a fleet of 5 ships and 300 men set sail from the port of Seville bound for the Spice Islands (today Indonesia). The dial depicts the route he travelled from Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean – named as such due to the fact that Magellan was marveled by its calm waters.
Creating a cloisonné enamel dial requires extreme skills, dexterity and talent. The artist first marks out the outline of the motifs using a fine gold wire to separate the various enamel regions. Multiple enamel layers are applied depending on the desired colors, followed by numerous successive firing operations in a kiln serving to intensify the color and light effects as well as the gradation of the enamel. A dangerous process as at each firing the dial can break while the enamel may react differently to the heat, resulting in high rejection rates. The level of difficulty has been pushed even further for the dial of this watch as it is made on two levels with a small opening allowing the passage of a sapphire disc for the wandering hour indication.
Please note that the proceeds of the present timepiece will be donated by the consignor to various charities.
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.