Manufacturer: Vacheron Constantin Year: Circa 1930 Movement No: 414'883 Case No: 12'779 Model Name: Montre à Volets Material: 18K yellow gold and 18K white gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 9''94, 15 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: Gold-tone pin buckle Dimensions: 26mm length x 26mm height Signed: Dial and movement signed. Case made by Verger Frères. Accessories: Accompanied by Vacheron Constantin Extract from the Archives confirming year of sale of the movement in 1930. Provenance: The Geneva Watch Auction: THREE, May 15th 2016, lot 152. Literature: Similar examples are illustrated in Secrets of Vacheron Constantin by Franco Cologni pages 128-129 and 267.
Provenance
The Geneva Watch Auction: THREE, May 15th 2016, lot 152.
Catalogue Essay
Since the late 19th century, the Paris-based jeweler Verger Frères has fabricated revered, high jewelry ornaments, watches, and clocks. During and following the “Roaring 1920s”, Verger Frères earned the reputation of being a master of Art Deco.
Producing objects of the highest quality, between 1875 and 1938 Verger Frères worked in collaboration with Vacheron Constantin, using their high-grade movements for the timepieces they created. This long-term partnership reached its pinnacle at the end of the “Années Folles”, when Gustave-Aubert Verger patented the shutter wristwatch.
With its narrow slats opening like Venetian blinds, the ingenious mechanism formed a protective shield for the fragile crystal and precious dial. The present watch is a very rare example of a version with horizontally oriented shutters. The shutters open flawlessly by turning the crown at 3 o’clock. There is a crown at 9 o’clock for winding and setting of the movement. Featuring a yellow gold bezel atop a white gold, perfectly square case, this rare Verger Frères watch made for Vacheron Constantin would add a charismatic and distinctive Art Deco touch to any collection.
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.
