835Σ
Vacheron Constantin
Ref. 43050
Mercator
A fine and extremely rare pink gold automatic wristwatch with retrograde hours and minutes, polychrome champlevé enamel dial, Garantie and box. Number 8 of a limited edition of 26 pieces
- Estimate
- HK$150,000 - 220,000€16,500 - 24,200$19,200 - 28,200
HK$237,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Vacheron Constantin
- Year
- Circa 1998
- Reference No
- 43050
- Movement No
- 861'296
- Case No
- 706'333, No. 8/26
- Model Name
- Mercator
- Material
- 18K pink gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1120/2, 36 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Vacheron Constantin leather strap
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K pink gold Vacheron Constantin double deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 36mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, strap and clasp signed by maker, dial further signed by enameler
- Accessories
- Accompanied by undated Vacheron Constantin Garantie International stamped by Vacheron Constantin Taiwan, numbered sale tag, product literature, fitted wooden presentation box and outer packaging
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The Mercator line of Vacheron Constantin timepieces pays homage to the renaissance scholar, father of modern cartography. Born in Antwerp in 1592, he became the most popular cartographer of the time, with some of his intuitions being in use to this day. His greatest achievement is probably the mercator projection, which is a method to render in an euclidean surface (that is: on a flat surface) the non euclidean configuration of the terrestrial globe. Still in use today, this method is the reason why airplane routes when traced on a flat map appear to be a constant curve, while in reality they are straight (of course: an airplane takes the most direct route between departure and destination).
The Swiss manufacturer celebrated Mercator's genius with a series of timepieces bearing champlevé enamel dials reproducing Mercator's maps of the eastern and western hemispheres. Manufactured by master enamelers Lucie and Jean Genbrugge, a total of fifty dials were realized. Furthermore, the hands are shaped as the legs of handheld compasses such as the ones Mercator surely used for his work, a resemblance which is accentuated by the retrograde display configuration.
Offered complete of its original Guarantee and veneered presentation box, the present timepiece is number 8 of a limited series of 26, as engraved to the band.
The Swiss manufacturer celebrated Mercator's genius with a series of timepieces bearing champlevé enamel dials reproducing Mercator's maps of the eastern and western hemispheres. Manufactured by master enamelers Lucie and Jean Genbrugge, a total of fifty dials were realized. Furthermore, the hands are shaped as the legs of handheld compasses such as the ones Mercator surely used for his work, a resemblance which is accentuated by the retrograde display configuration.
Offered complete of its original Guarantee and veneered presentation box, the present timepiece is number 8 of a limited series of 26, as engraved to the band.
Vacheron Constantin
Swiss | 1755The world's oldest watch brand in continuous operation since its founding in 1755, Vacheron Constantin was the first watch company to manufacture movements with interchangeable parts beginning in 1839. Vacheron's watches are admired for their Latin-influenced case designs, well-balanced proportions and exquisitely finished movements of the highest quality. The Geneva-based manufacturer is known for their highly complicated masterpieces, including the King Farouk Grand Complication made in 1935, the Tour de l'Ile that was the most complicated serially produced wristwatch when introduced in 2005 and the 57260 — the world’s most complicated watch — made in 2015.
Key vintage models include minute repeating wristwatches such as the references 4261, chronographs such as the references 4178 and 6087 and the oversized Cioccolotone models such as ref. 4737. Collectors also appreciate Vacheron's Chronometer Royal pocket and wristwatches, as well as the '222,' the brand's first luxury sports watch produced from 1977 through 1984.
Browse MakerKey vintage models include minute repeating wristwatches such as the references 4261, chronographs such as the references 4178 and 6087 and the oversized Cioccolotone models such as ref. 4737. Collectors also appreciate Vacheron's Chronometer Royal pocket and wristwatches, as well as the '222,' the brand's first luxury sports watch produced from 1977 through 1984.