Mens 1912 VACHERON CONSTANTIN Vintage GOLD Wrist Watch

VACHERON & CONSTANTIN
GENEVE
Switzerland

UNIQUE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF TIMEPIECE
VERY BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE WATCH 1912
VERY BEAUTIFUL MECHANICAL WORK

If you have been collecting watches for a while I think you’re going to appreciate the following timepiece. One could argue that the word “RARE” gets tossed around a bit too easily on eBay but I think this is one case where the moniker is well deserved.

Here is a truly pristine and original men’s timepiece by “VACHERON & CONSTANTIN” that dates to 1912.

It is a registered design model that features a three piece GOLD-FILLED new custom made case that provides with glass cover of back lid, original porcelain enamel dial signed VACHERON & CONSTANTIN - GENEVE with fancy ORIGINAL SOLID GOLD Spade Style hands and original high grade, clean, gold plated mechanism with WOLFTEETHS WINDING WHEELS signed VACHERON & CONSTANTIN – GENEVE.

Also it signed movement serial number 342,960. This serial number corresponds to the 1912 production date as per published records.

The history of Vacheron Constantin

The Once and Future King

One of the greatest names in Swiss watchmaking, Vacheron & Constantin is the archetype of the Prestige Swiss Watch Company. Vacheron & Constantin, along with Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, make up the classic Trinity of 20th century Swiss watch brands. With a customer list in their Golden Book that reads like a veritable World Who's Who of the past two and a half centuries, Vacheron and Constantin's pedigree and recognized brand cachet is without question. That they have maintained their position at the apex of the watchmaking firmament throughout their existence, across the years and spanning the generations, makes their reputation all the more impressive.

To understand the glory that is Vacheron & Constantin, knowledge of their history and past achievements is necessary. Since their earliest days, the Vacheron name has been synonymous with fine watchmaking. The name has been well regarded by the cognoscenti and the industry insiders, always spoken with a degree of reverence and respect.

Set amidst the backdrop of the European Age of Enlightenment, Revolution, and the chaos of social and political upheaval, Vacheron & Constantin's story parallels that of the history of the modern Western World. It is an interesting and worthy history indeed.

Watchmaker's Workshop in 18th Century Geneva

Christophe De Ziegler, Geneva Kunsthistorisches Museum

Vacheron and Constantin's origins can be honestly traced back to 1755, when the 24 year old Jean-Marc Vacheron joined the ranks of the Cabinotier of Geneva. Cultured, well read, and a respected member of the intelligentsia of the time, young Jean-Marc quickly established a reputation for producing timepieces of the highest grade. Vacheron's reputation extended to the Royal Courts of Europe, where their creations impressed even the Court Timekeeper and Royal Watchmakers.

One of the great seeming contradictions of Haute Horlogerie is the worship of hand craftsmanship, the mystique of the human touch, in an endeavour that is often better served by mechanized production. In an ironic way, this same paradox partially accounts for the renaissance of the mechanical watch in the last two decades of the 20th century. In an age of virtual reality and digital paradigms, the sensual image of human hands polishing and adjusting a complicated movement, hearing the soft tic-tic-tic of the escapement, precise and reliable beyond all other complex mechanical systems, is somehow soothing and lends some degree of comfort to humans that are, after all, inherently part of the analog, physical world.

Chronology of The House of Vacheron Constantin

1755 Foundation by Jean-Marc Vacheron.

1819 François Constantin joins the company.

1839 Hired as a production engineer, Georges-Auguste Leschot revolutionised watchmaking techniques by inventing the pantograph.

1880 Appearance of the “Maltese Cross” in the Vacheron Constantin logotype, based on a movement part fixed to the barrel and which made it possible to limit the degree of winding required for the latter.

1906 Inauguration of the very first Vacheron Constantin boutique, which is still located today on Quai de l’Ile in Geneva.

1935 Creation of one of the most complex pocket-watches ever made by Vacheron Constantin. Ordered by King Farouk of Egypt, this masterpiece took five years to create.

1955 200th anniversary and launch of the Patrimony, the world’s thinnest mechanical watch.

1979 Carved directly from a one-kilo solid gold ingot, the Kallista is set with 118 diamonds totalling 130 carats - five years of patient work. At the time, this was the most expensive watch ever sold.

1996 Vacheron Constantin joins the Richemont Group.

2004 Opening of the new head office and the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva and renovation of the brand’s historic head office: “La Maison Vacheron Constantin”, including an exclusive Boutique, a heritage center and the “Métiers d’Art” workshops.

2005 250th anniversary of the brand.

2005 Creation of the Tour de l’Ile, the world’s most complicated watch with double-faced display featuring an unprecedented combination of 16 horological complications and astronomical indications, and the Saint Gervais, a watch combining for the very first time a perpetual calendar, a tourbillon and over ten days’ power reserve.

2006 Vacheron Constantin pays tribute to the most noble, rare and precious of metals with the Vacheron Constantin Collection Excellence Platine

The original white porcelain enamel dial is in flawless condition. It is complete with elegant black enamel painted Roman numerals, a crisp 60 minute outer track border, ORIGINAL SOLID GOLD Spade Style hands and a recessed seconds dial with “sweep” seconds hand.

Signed VACHERON & CONSTANTIN in black enamel lettering below the XII and further signed GENEVE.

It is a registered design model that features a three piece GOLD-FILLED case that provides with glass cover of back lid. GOLD-FILLED case, new custom made, fantastic, build specially for this wonderful Vacheron & Constantin movement.

Peeking inside via the glass lid I find a spotless and high quality, manual wind gold plated lever escapement movement with red Ruby jewels. The movement signed VACHERON & CONSTANTIN – GENEVE.

Also it signed movement serial number 342,960. This serial number corresponds to the 1912 production date as per published records.

This beautiful wristwatch has the Original movement in an excellent status which was very well saved, considering age of this watch.

Note the nail set feature near the crown. You press the pin "IN" and then move the crown to set the hands.

It is fitted on a new 20mm black lizard grain strap genuine leather with chrome gold buckle that is vintage style and goes great with this wonderful watch.

This rare watch winds and set smoothly while keeping very good, accurate time.