42,500 HKD
VACHERON & CONSTANTIN CHRONOMETRE ROYAL YELLOW GOLD Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, Chronomètre Royal, No. 342698, case No. 209483. Made circa 1900. Very fine and rare, large-size, keyless, 18K yellow gold pocket lever chronometer. Four-body, bassine, polished, sunray engine-turned case back. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel with bold radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, large subsidiary seconds dial. Yellow gold spade hands. Cal. 22''' 2 PRC, frosted gilt, 18 jewels, wolf`s tooth winding, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Notes Dial, case, cuvette and movement signed. DIAM. 57 mm. THICKNESS 17.5 mm. The name "Chronomètre Royal" was registered on May 28, 1907, under the number 22193. The "Royal Chronometer" name, for the English-speaking market, was registered on May 8 1908, under the number 23872. The first of these were a series of pocket watches delivered to Brazil. A certain A. Campos, one of Vacheron & Constantin's agents, had organized a lottery system in which subscribers would pay a monthly fee to take part in a series of draws. The holders of the winning tickets would be given a watch and the other subscribers would be entered into the next draw. This system proved to be so successful that A Campos delivered a total of 3022 watches between 22 October 1907 and 31 December 1911 - an amazing 80% of the production of the Chronomètre Royal, utilizing
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2014-06-28
