92,000 CHF
“Cupid at the Altar of Love” Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 368871, case No. 229848. Made in 1916. Very fine and unique, early, platinum and diamond lady’s rectangular wristwatch with canted corners, with cameo concealing the dial and matching platinum and diamond expandable bracelet. Accompanied by a Certificate of Au-thenticity. Four-body, rectangular, canted corners, hinged cover set withdiamonds and hardstone cameo depicting a lady making anoffering at the altar of love, with Cupid and another cherub inattendance, bezel, band and back chased and engraved withfloral scrolls, inner case three-piece, hinged. Matte, two-tone,silvered, with Arabic chapter ring, outer minute track, floralyengraved central field. Blued steel “cathedral” hands. Cal.R.A.7’’’ XXI 14/12, rhodium-plated, 18 jewels, straight line leverescapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, flat balance-spring.Dial, case and movement signed.Dim. 30 x 23 mm. Thickness: 7 mm. Approx. overall length:175 mm. Notes Highly innovative and audacious for its time, this elegant lady’s wristwatch is inspired by the styles of the French Second Empire. It is proof of the importance Vacheron Constantin accorded to lady’s watches. Unique and highly important watches such as this one illustrate the Genevan company’s creative mastery. The practical and elegant expandable bracelet was a novelty at the time, and stood out among the more common ribbon bracelets. The present watch is illustrated in “The World of Vachero
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-04-03
