Possibly one of the most unique and exceptional timepieces made between 1994 - 2004, the Vacheron Constantin ref. 43050 is an unusual model designed to honor the memory of the great mathematician Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) on the 400th anniversary of his death. Developed jointly by a team of skilled watchmakers from Vacheron Constantin and the Belgian horological inventor Jean Genbrugge along with his wife Lucie, the “Mercator” wristwatch features a specially designed mechanism developed by Genbrugge. The ingenious device controls the travel of both the hour and of the minute hands as they each move in an arc over a graduated sector. The hands themselves are styled like compass legs, reminiscent of the early hand-held compasses such as the ones which Mercator used throughout his life.

The present example “Mercator” from 1995 features a 22K yellow gold dial entirely chased by hand then enamelled, displaying the outlines of the hemisphere of the 1587 map of the world. Preserved in exceptional condition and consigned by its original owner, the timepiece is further accompanied by its full set of accessories and presents a rare opportunity for connoisseurs to acquire a mechanical work of wonder that captures both the art and history of the Renaissance period.