Vintage
pplater's quest to identify a Vacheron Constantin inherited by a friend highlights the challenges of researching vintage references, especially those with unusual cases and lost original bracelets. This article delves into the community's expert analysis, attempting to pinpoint the model, production era, and movement of this intriguing timepiece. The discussion underscores the value of collective knowledge in uncovering the history of rare watches.
VC experts: your assistance would be much appreciated.
The photos which follow show the watch which a good friend inherited from his father (and no: this is not another scam story from a one-post newbie fishing for tips to improve his counterfeit pieces!). The watch is likely to have been bought in the late sixties or early seventies. It was apparently claimed at that time to be the thinnest automatic on the market and cost what was a king’s ransom in dollars of the day. It was originally on a bracelet which matched the unusual case, but that was destroyed by someone trying to repair it (isn’t that so often the story?).
Even some fairly dedicated internet surfing has failed to turn up any history of the watch. The next stop may have to be an enquiry to VC but before that happens, is it possible that anyone here knows anything about the watch? Model, production period, production history, movement – any detail or guesses would be very welcome.
Cheers,
pplater.
that it has a 1120 movement- or at least from that family. It was 3.05 mm high with date. Like a lot of movements back then coming originally from JLC. Also used by Patek and others. That would also tie in with the design of the watch which screams mid 70ies. Also tapestry dials were en vogue back then. Not sure if this all is correct but might make sense 😀. Br, Dirk
This is not intended to be an authenticity check, it's just a first rough guess. Made and sold in early to mid 1970's, definitely not late 1960's - my guess: 1975. For the ref, a difficult to answer question - my best guess, a follower or derivative of ref 2040, but there are many similar looking case designs at that time. The Vacheron Constantin automatic movement is probably a K1121, with Geneva Hallmark, 36 jewels, segment 21K gold rotor. It is based on a JLC ébauche, but refined and regulate
That is a very thorough, and very helpful, response. The comments about the bracelet were just a little confusing though: why do you think it was probably not on bracelet originally, if (on the other hand) at that time you could observe the integrated bracelet very often? Cheers, pplater.
(pictures did not load first time around). Thank you again for taking that trouble. Cheers, pplater.
The watch above with the ident dial to yours is a ref 2051, like that below.
I did remember: Stay with it, don't give it away! It's a beauty.
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