17,700 CHF
“Papillon” Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 485526, case No. 334130. Made circa 1955. Very fine and rare, rectangular, flared, 18K yellow gold wristwatch. Two-body, solid, polished, flared and undercut sides, domed crystal. Guilloché silver with applied yellow gold pyramidal and baton indexes, subsidiary seconds dial. Yellow gold "baton" hands. Cal. 11’’’ 435/3C, tonneau-shaped, rhodium-plated, “fausses côtes” decoration, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, beryllium balance with timing screws, adjusted to temperatures, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 27 x 38 mm. Thickness: 9 mm. From “The Collection” Notes This watch is a perfect illustration of the influence of American automobile design on the decorative arts, including watches and other industrial objects, during the 1950s. Watch design followed automobile design, both in spirit and in actual fact. Numerous watches by Vacheron & Constantin and Patek Philippe bear testimony to this trend.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2007-10-14
