Manufacturer: Vacheron Constantin Year: 1994 Reference No: 43040 Movement No: 798'073 Case No: 653'319 Model Name: "Heures Sautantes" Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1120/2 HS, 36 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Vacheron Constantin pin buckle Dimensions: 36mm in Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Vacheron Constantin Extract from the Archives confirming the date of production to 1994, original invoice and travel pouch.
Catalogue Essay
Vacheron Constantin’s Heure Sautantes (Jump Hour) is an example of horological serenity without any visibly moving elements.
The onyx triangular minutes indicator is elegantly hidden behind a lovely guilloché dial and advances imperceptibly. At 12 is an aperture with the hours disc which jumps immediately to the next hour, minutes indicator reaches 12 after having made a complete one hour tour of the dial.
Launched in 1994 the Jump Hour finds its inspiration directly in a pocket watch made by the brand in the 1930s.
The 36mm case housing the automatic caliber 1120 exists in yellow gold and platinum and features a beautiful guilloche dial. It was produced for only 4 short years with a very low production number of 192 pieces in yellow gold and 131 in platinum.
The 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.