Fine Watches
Fine Watches
Vacheron Constantin
Mercator, Reference 43050 | A yellow gold double retrograde wristwatch | Circa 1995
Lot Closed
May 29, 01:23 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Vacheron Constantin
Mercator, Reference 43050
A yellow gold double retrograde wristwatch
Circa 1995
Dial: yellow gold depicting the map of Europe, Africa and Asia
Calibre: cal. 1120/2 automatic winding, 36 jewels
Movement number: 861'317
Case: 18k yellow gold, snap on sapphire crystal display back
Case number: 684'306
Closure: 18k yellow gold Vacheron Constantin folding buckle
Size: 36 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Papers: no
Box: no
Accessories: none
The Vacheron Constantin Mercator collection is a homage to the cartographer Gerardus Mercator, renowned for his significant contributions in the field. One of his most notable achievements, the Mercator projection, revolutionised mapping by transforming the spherical globe into a two-dimensional representation. This innovative technique employed a grid of straight latitude and longitude lines to accurately depict locations.
Adding to the poetic nature of this collection, the case of the present watch is inspired by a 1940s Vacheron Constantin model known as the 'Geographique' and the dial also depicts the map of Africa and Asia as drawn by Gerardus Mercator himself in 1587. The combination of history with the world of Swiss fine watchmaking with the featuring of the highly complex retrograde hands, demonstrates the sophistication of Vacheron COnstantin when it comes to the creation of watches, both mechanically and as objects worth of intellectual engagement without jeopardising beauty and wearability.