973Σ︎
Vacheron Constantin
Ref. 43050
Mercator
A rare and very fine platinum wristwatch with champlevé enamel Taiwan dial, retrograde hands, made to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Gerardus Mercator
Full-Cataloguing
The Mercator with champlevé enamel dial was made in collaboration with Jean and Lucie Genbrugge, Belgium enamellers whose names are featured on the dial. Various dials were made using original maps by Gerard Mercator as inspiration. The present watch features a map of the South China Sea, with Taiwan and the eastern coast of China. In lovely original condition and with box and papers, this collector’s watch is a tribute to both Mercator and the technical expertise of Vacheron Constantin.
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.