Vacheron Constantin: First Vintage Watch

Key Points from the Discussion

• The Vacheron Constantin Ref. 4073's dial is a 'tour-de-force' from 1946, featuring minute and seconds markings 'en réserve', a galvanized base with contrasting brushing, and applied gold numerals. The two-tone steel and pink gold design, though born from wartime metal shortages, enhances collectibility due to its aesthetic contrast and lower production numbers.
• The original author confirmed the bezel is 14k pink gold, as stated in the extract from archives. They also provided additional images clarifying the incised dial technique and the movement, and noted that the original crown was replaced by a previous owner's watchmaker.
• While a 1940s chronograph with a black dial exists in the Vacheron Constantin museum, original black dials for this era are exceedingly rare, with only two known examples among 80+ surveyed Ref. 4072 watches. Black dials became more common in production around the 1960s or 1970s.
• The author shared a link to a Vacheron Constantin Chronograph Ref. 4072 with what appears to be an original black dial, citing an article that identifies black enamel as the rarest of six dial variants for the 4072, with only two known examples in a survey of over 80 watches.
• A contributor shared an image of what the correct crown for a Vacheron Constantin Ref. 4073 should look like, noting that while their own watch has a refinished dial, it is an exceptionally well-executed redial.
• The Caliber 453 in the acquired Ref. 4073 is in excellent condition, showing no signs of misuse, making this a desirable example for collectors.