Manufacturer: Vacheron Constantin Year: 1941 Reference No: 4072 Movement No: 428'413 Case No: 269'130 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 434, 19 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold pin buckle Dimensions: 35mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed, dial further signed Hausmann & Co Accessories: Accompanied by Vacheron Constantin Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1941
Catalogue Essay
The elegance of Audrey Hepburn with the sex appeal of Sophia Loren best describes this brutally beautiful Vacheron Constantin reference 4072 with three tone dial retailed by Hausmann & Co.
One of Vacheron Constantin’s best known chronograph models, reference 4072 was in production from 1938 until the late 1960s. The reference 4072 is a very diverse chronograph model made in yellow gold, pink gold, stainless steel and a mix thereof.
The elongated lugs and wide opening to the dial give the watch huge presence on the wrist. The case is very well preserved with a very crisp hallmark on the case side. However, the star of the show here is the amazing three tone dial. The vanilla colored dial is surrounded by a silver brushed tachymeter scale on the outer edge and a salmon colored grené seconds scale, providing a visually enchanting result.
A beautiful specimen of the reference 4072, the present watch comes in an extremely rare version that will enchant collectors of vintage chronographs.
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.