Passions Watch Exchange

About This Watch

Vintage. No boxes or papers & a Passions box will be given. The factory archive certificate accompanies this watch.

An exceptional Vacheron & Constantin Geneva Hunter cased drum style pocket watch in heavy solid 14ct Rose gold. The case has very elaborate engravings on both covers with stepped, double fluted rings and heavy foliage engraved case band. The gold bezel holding the crystal is further enhanced with a rope pattern ring. Watch is fitted with an oven baked white enamel dial in flawless condition and some of the finest hands ever produced.

This watch is 135yrs old now & counting. According to the Extract from the Archives issued by VC, this watch was manufactured in 1888 and the movement sold on it's own so sale would've been later. This watch was an export model to North American market and due to the US Tariff, most Swiss watchmakers would export only completed movements to be cased by local watchmakers or jewelers to save on taxes as in our watch here.

As always, this watch has been examined by us and research done before releasing for sale here.

The high quality construction of the case has US assay office marks, this watch weighs a hefty 126.5gram and the gold value alone with movement would be in excess of S$8000 today.

The movement is signed & numbered with a large balance wheel and blued steel Breguet overcoil hairspring. The bridges are decorated with horizontal pattern and jewelled to the center with anglage (bevelled/black polish) edges. The balance regulator is a Jan.8.1884 patent, featuring an adjustable screw rod for fine adjustments. This movement features the hallmarks of best Swiss watchmaking and will surely satisfy the most demanding watch collector.

This watch has a set of beautiful Fleur de Lys (flower of lily and a symbol often associated with French royalty) hands in blued steel fitted to it while the dial has large Arabic numerals in black with minutes in red and a sunken small seconds. The layered enamel dial is flawless.

It takes about 12 winds on the crown to full power reserve & the large balance beats with a wonderful tick. Case is in near mint throughout with no signs of serious dents nor marks throughout and of course micro hairlines as seen. The bow (crown ring) and hinges remain tight and hunter cover springs open with vigour. To adjust time, simply pull out the lever @  5 o'clock and turn the crown to set.

Overall, an impressive pocket watch in excellent condition and a heavy weight for it's class.

Vacheron & Constantin is the oldest watch manufacturer in continuing production since 1755.

1888 is known as the year of three emperors where in the German empire, there was a quick succession of three monarchs in that year. It is also the year with longest digits when written in Roman MDCCCLXXXVIII and this will not be surpassed until the year 2888. This was also the year that Jack the Ripper started and known as the White chapel murders in Eastern London. On a happier note, on 5 Aug 1888, Bertha Benz became the first person to drive over 60 miles on a car manufactured by her husband Karl Benz and thus the automobile was proven which became Daimler-Benz.

This watch is a truly fine collector's item that keeps time yet costing a fraction of modern day compatriots. A watch not to be missed & nothing else quite like it out there at the moment.