VACHERON CONSTANTIN

A very fine and rare yellow gold wristwatch with retrograde hours and minutes, certificates and presentation box, made to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Gerardus Mercator

江詩丹頓，「Mercator」型號43050，十分精細罕有，黃金自動腕錶，備逆跳讀時、 逆跳分鐘，為紀念地理學家麥卡托逝世四百周年發行，約1995年製。附原裝證書、 錶盒、配件

Manufacturer Vacheron Constantin

Year Circa 1995

Reference No. 43050

Movement No. 798’194

Case No. 656’876

Model Name Mercator

Material 18K yellow gold

Calibre Automatic, cal. 1120/2, 36 jewels

Bracelet/Strap Crocodile

Clasp/Buckle 18K yellow gold Vacheron Constantin deployant clasp

Dimensions 36mm diameter

Signed Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate

HKD 120,000-250,000 Σ

USD 15,400-32,100

Accessories

Accompanied by Vacheron Constantin Certificate dated 31st May 1995, Geneva seal certificate, product literature, instruction manual, envelope, presentation box and outer packaging.

Property from the Original Owner 原物主收藏

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.