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Vacheron Constantin adds a new ‘panda’-styled chronograph to its sporty Overseas collection in a nod to the chronographs of 1960s motorsports.

The new Vacheron Constantin ‘Panda’ Overseas Chronograph.

The new 42.5mm steel chronograph features a silver-toned, sunburst satin-finished dial, snailed black counters, black-velvet-finished flange, 18-karat white gold hour-markers and hands. All hands are finished with a generous dollop of SuperLuminova.

The contrasting light-dark dial styling of the so-called panda dials was aimed at enhancing the visibility of the chronograph function.

Inside the watch Vacheron Constantin fits its superb automatic Caliber 5200 that boasts twin barrels, a column wheel and vertical clutch.

The movement also features a 22-karat gold oscillating weight adorned with a wind rose, visible through the watch’s sapphire caseback.

Like all Overseas models since Vacheron Constantin launched its much-touted 2016 re-design, the new model is also sold with an interchangeable bracelet and two straps to allow the wearer to easily swap styles as desired without the need for tools. Price: $32,400.

Specifications: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph ‘Panda’

(Ref. 5500V/110A-B686) 

Movement: Caliber 5200 self-winding with 22-karat gold Overseas oscillating weight, approximately 52 hours of power reserve, 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour), Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece. 

Case: 42.5mm by 13.7mm steel, soft iron casing ring ensuring anti-magnetic protection, screwed-down crown and quarter-turn screw-lock push-pieces, transparent sapphire crystal caseback,
water-resistant to 150 meters.

Dial: Silver-toned, sunburst satin-finished base, translucent varnish, black velvet-finished flange and snailed counters, 18-karat white gold hour-markers and hours, minutes, seconds and counters hands, highlighted with Super-LumiNova.

Bracelet: Steel bracelet, half Maltese cross-shaped polished and satin-brushed links, black calfskin leather with grey stitching, black rubber. Stainless steel bracelet secured by a stainless steel triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and comfort-adjustment system, delivered with a stainless steel triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and patented interchangeable system compatible with both additional straps. 

Price: $32,400. 

Vacheron Constantin commemorates the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year (January 22) with a Métiers d’Art limited edition duo, each with a Grand Feu enamel Year of the Rabbit dial. Both watches are powered by the watchmaker’s excellent Calibre 2460 G4 that allows for a hand-free dial that highlights the artisanal decoupage dial.

Each 40mm watch features the symbolic rabbit directly etched into the gold dial. The pattern is semi-embedded and stands out from its gold base, surrounded by flowers and vegetation that appears to be floating over the dial.

One model is cased in platinum and features a blue tone dial. The other, cased in pink gold, offers a bronze tone dial.

 

Both rich hues are the result of Grand Feu enameling whereby artisans apply enamel in successive layers, each fired at temperatures between 800 and 900 degrees Celsius.

The Calibre 2460 G4 opens up the space on the dial thanks to a four-aperture display showing the hours, minutes, days and dates. Vacheron Constantin has used this display for numerous watches over the years in part to highlight a particularly rich artisanal dial.

The automatic caliber 2460 G4 has a 40-hour power reserve. This movement is certified with the Hallmark of Geneva.

The movement in the platinum model is on display from the back of the case, where the viewer can see a 22-karat gold oscillating weight with the Vacheron Constantin Maltese cross logo.

The automatic caliber 2460 G4, visible through the sapphire back of the platinum model. 

And of course the caliber on both models is beautifully finished in accordance with the criteria of the Hallmark of Geneva.

Prices: $131,000 (in platinum with sapphire caseback) and $108,000 (pink gold). Each is a limited edition of nine watches.

Zurich-based Ineichen Auctioneers will focus on collectible watches made of rose gold for “La Vie en Rose,” its March 12 auction. More than fifty watches will be on offer, with pieces from Vacheron Constantin, F.P. Journe, Daniel Roth, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Audemars Piguet among the auction headliners.

Three pieces in particular are likely to stir the most collector interest: F. P. Journe’s Chronomètre à Résonance Sincere Limited-Edition No. 202-RN and Octa Calendrier Sincere Limited Edition No. 239-Q, and a Vacheron Constantin Malte Openworked Tourbillon.

F. P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Sincere Limited Edition No. 202-RN

F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Sincere Limited-Edition No. 202-RN 

(Estimate: CHF 200,000-300,000)

A limited-edition watch first purchased in 2006, this model features a 40mm by 9.1mm case in rose gold, a black mother-of-pearl dial and silver subdials patterned with Clous de Paris guilloché. It is powered by a thin manual-wound caliber 1499.2 with mainplate and bridges in solid 18-karat rose gold, and twin independent movement coupled with an aerodynamic resonance system. The watch is one of the rarest models in the Chronomètre à Résonance line as only ten pieces were produced.

F. P. Journe Octa Calendrier Sincere Limited Edition No. 239-Q

F.P. Journe Octa Calendrier Sincere Limited-Edition No. 239-Q 

(Estimate: CHF 150,000-200,000)

Also limited to ten pieces, this 2006 model’s rose gold case measures 38mm by 10.6mm. It features a black mother-of-pearl dial with silver subdial decoration in Clous de Paris guilloché, and is one of very few timepieces to include an annual calendar complication, automatic winding and five-day power reserve. Its annual calendar function indicates the date via the large central hand and advances automatically for months with 29, 30 and 31 days.

Soon after its launch, the Octa Calendrier won the Special Jury Award at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2002.

Vacheron Constantin Malte Openworked Tourbillon

Vacheron Constantin Malte Openworked Tourbillon Ref. 30067/000R-8954

(Estimate: CHF 50,000-100,000)

With a rose gold case measuring 36mm x 36mm x 11.80mm, this watch was produced from 2000 to 2011 and features traditional skeletonization with ‘baroque lines’ and a hand-engraved “peacock tail” decorative pattern with meticulous finishing. Another feature is the caliber 1790SQ, which is one of the best traditionally skeletonized tourbillon movements and also Vacheron Constantin’s first in-house tourbillon movement.

In addition to this trio of headliners, these watches from Girard-Perregaux, Cartier and Daniel Roth will likely draw attention from many collectors.

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc Tourbillon Hours of the World

 

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc Tourbillon Hours of the World  

(Estimate: CHF 30,000-40,000)

This piece features the famed Girard-Perregaux three gold bridges, but here they’re visible through the back of the case, non via the dial side. This is meant to echo the design of the original pocket watch movement invented by Constant Girard in 1867 and patented in the US in 1884.  This Reference 99350 is a very rare variation of the design with a rose gold case measures 43mm x 13.15mm, a light cream dial with a world-time complication. Only a few pieces were produced annually from 2005 to 2010.

Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir

 

Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir Mk2 Ref. 2781 

(Estimate: CHF 20,000-30,000)

This watch, one of the first timepieces from the Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP) introduced by Cartier in 1998, is equipped with a rare hand-wound movement, caliber 045 MC, developed by THA Èbauche – a collaborative movement manufacture founded in 1996 by independent watchmakers Vianney Halter, Denis Flageollet and François-Paul Journe.

This model features the caliber 045MC Mk2 version, which uses only monolithic steel springs (except for the fixing spring of the minute counter). There is no additional bridge. Purchased in 2004, the case of this piece is 18-karat rose gold, measuring 43mm x 34mm (with lugs) x 10mm.

Collectors can register pre-bids and participate in the auction live via the Ineichen Auctioneers website. Bids can also be made online at invaluable.com; liveactionauction.com or by phone via +41 44 298 11 44.

Source: Ineichen Auctioneers