204,250 CHF
“White Cioccolatone” Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, “Automatic”, No. 505636, case No. 343243, Ref. 4737. Made in 1954 in two examples. Extremely fine and exceptionally rare, large, curved, "carré", center-seconds, self-winding, 18K white gold gentleman's wristwatch with white gold Vacheron & Constantin buckle. Accompanied by the original fitted box and Certificate of Authenticity. Two-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, rounded lugs, domed thick crystal. Satiné silver with applied whitegold pyramid and triangular indexes. White gold "bâton" hands. Cal. P 499, rhodium-plated, “fausses côtes”decoration, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, beryllium balance with timing screws, adjusted totemperatures, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan neck micrometer regulator, heavy metal rotor.Dial, case and movement signed.Dim. 36 x 43 mm. Thickness: 12 mm. Notes The present watch was made in only two examples. The first is in the Vacheron Constantin Museum; the second is the present watch. Ref. 4737 is called “cioccolatone” by Italian collectors due to its shape. Several variatons exist: the self-winding Ref. 4764 with calendar and moon phases; Ref. 6440 with center seconds; Ref. 6440Q, with date. These models are the most admired and sought-after wristwatches of the 1950s. Vacheron Constantin, always innovative, was clearly ahead of its time in offering a model so unusual in size and shape. Particularly pleasing was the rounded outline of the
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-04-03
