製造商: Vacheron Constantin 年份: Circa 1995 型號: 43050 機芯編號: 798’194 錶殼號碼: 656’876 型號名稱: Mercator 材料: 18K yellow gold 機芯: Automatic, cal. 1120/2, 36 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Crocodile 錶扣: 18K yellow gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp 尺寸: 36mm diameter 簽名: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed 配件: Accompanied by Vacheron Constantin Certificate dated 31st May 1995, Geneva seal certificate, product literature, instruction manual, envelope, presentation box and outer packaging.
圖錄文章
Possibly one of the most unique and exceptional timepieces made between 1994 - 2004, the Vacheron Constantin ref. 43050 is an unusual model designed to honor the memory of the great mathematician Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) on the 400th anniversary of his death. Developed jointly by a team of skilled watchmakers from Vacheron Constantin and the Belgian horological inventor Jean Genbrugge along with his wife Lucie, the “Mercator” wristwatch features a specially designed mechanism developed by Genbrugge. The ingenious device controls the travel of both the hour and of the minute hands as they each move in an arc over a graduated sector. The hands themselves are styled like compass legs, reminiscent of the early hand-held compasses such as the ones which Mercator used throughout his life.
The present example “Mercator” from 1995 features a 22K yellow gold dial entirely chased by hand then enamelled, displaying the outlines of the hemisphere of the 1587 map of the world. Preserved in exceptional condition and consigned by its original owner, the timepiece is further accompanied by its full set of accessories and presents a rare opportunity for connoisseurs to acquire a mechanical work of wonder that captures both the art and history of the Renaissance period.
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.