WORLDTEMPUS - 26 December 2012
Elizabeth Doerr
Vacheron Constantin has confirmed its standing as a great performer on the secondary market with some exquisite vintage pieces at auction over the course of 2012.
Vacheron Constantin's top lot of the year, a thin minute repeater encased in 18-karat gold from 1961, was sold by Christie's at its May auction in Geneva for 363,000 Swiss francs. A classic 36 mm in diameter, this very distinguished-looking piece also boasted the following engraving on its snap-on case back: “Henry D. Moyle, 47 E.S.T., Salt Lake City”. The original estimate for this piece was 150,000-250,000 francs.
Sotheby's also offered a vintage minute repeater at its November auction in Geneva. Encased in rose gold and likely a unique specimen, it doubled its pre-auction estimate and went under the hammer for 242,500 Swiss francs, though its high-end estimate was only 150,000 francs. Note the beautiful teardrop-shaped lugs.
Antiquorum was not to be outdone and offered this extremely rare piece from a Japanese collector in its May auction, which took place in Geneva. From 1960, the 46 mm yellow gold pocket with keyless winding watch depicts a seventeenth-century Dutch lace maker signed by enameller Charles Poluzzi. Though Antiquorum had estimated it at 10,000 – 20,000 Swiss francs, it sold for 206,000.
In its Geneva March sale, Antiquorum sold another enameled piece entitled “The Three Warriors.” Delivered in 1926, this eight-day desk clock is housed in an exquisitely decorated case made by Verger Frères. The outside of it is embellished with the red lacquer typical of Chinese style, as well as the precious materials jade, gold, and lapis lazuli enhancing its sumptuous look. Hinged, spring-loaded doors open to the cloisonné enamel scene of the three warriors forming a background to the clock with its white gold hands and Japanese-style numerals. The whole thing sits on a solid base of jadeite. Though its pre-sale estimate was 70,000, it sold for 122,500 Swiss francs.
Christie's June sale in New York brought another finely enameled Vacheron Constantin to the public eye: an 18-karat gold time-only 33.5 mm wristwatch from 1953 with a beautiful abstract rooster cloisonné enamel dial. It sold for $98,500.
Sotheby's final Geneva auction of the year saw Vacheron Constantin's sixth most successful lot of 2012 hammered: a 34 mm 18-karat yellow gold chronograph from about 1937. It went for 92,500 Swiss francs, nearly twice its original estimate.
