Comments:
Absolutely amazing post!
I am a big fan of the Mercator and I thought I know well about this model and the numerous versions with many dial iterations but OMG I was far to imagine there are so many! So many thanks Emmanuel for the research work behind this great reference post!
I hope you will not mind me adding pics of the much more common Europe dial of my ex watch…
Quite a fascinating watch to look at in action when it reaches 60 min or 12 hours and the hands are in retrograde motion…
Thank you so much, Mike, for these gorgeous photos
of the watch which has been yours! It's a wonderful addition, as I had found only enamel variants of the Europa map.
This monochrome engraved dial with pt case looks awesome and your shots are terrific.
Have a great weekend. Best, Emmanuel
This monochrome engraved dial with pt case looks awesome and your shots are terrific.
Have a great weekend. Best, Emmanuel
Brilliant and informative thread, thank you.
Thank you for researching and compiling these images, it's the most exhaustive list I've seen online. It's particularly hard to find information on the Mercators as so many variants were created, and probably many more unique commissions that we will never see. In the interest of fullness, below are two maps that you haven't included.
The first is case number 674007 and the dial is a Champlevé map of China:
The second is a pair that was sold in October 2003, both Champlevé, one yellow gold (684301), and one platinum (701426), each the last of an eight watch series depicting the Mekong river delta.
Apologies for the poor quality image:
I particularly love the enamel work on the Mercator, such an impressive level of detail on a 36mm watch - it really is a sight to behold in person. There's also a remarkable level of uniqueness to each piece - different watches in the same series will include different place labels and even some will include rivers that others don't - if you're interested I have some "spot-the-difference" photos.
Thank you again for the post, I made an account just to comment...
Thank you so much for these great additions and warm welcome to WatchProSite!
Thanks to you, I've been able to update my thread withs these two maps that I had missed.
After having done some research, I think the second one depicts not the Mekong River delta, but the Pearl (or Zhūjiāng, even if Christie's calls it "Chu Kong") River delta, as it was designed to commemorate the handover of Macau to the People's Republic of China on 20th December 1999: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4174664?ldp_breadcrumb=back
As you say, there is probably several other maps that have been made for bespoke pieces we will never see...
Anyway, a great thank you again.
Best cordial regards,
Emmanuel
That makes a lot of sense.
In fact upon closer inspection, the reference image appears to be this excerpt detailing the Pearl Delta taken from the posthumously published 1619 map of China by the eponym himself
The full image of G Mercator's map can be seen below. Looks familiar...
This is great: thank you so much once again!
To be able to see the reference image is a true pleasure.
Thanks for sharing. A fantastic read for vc lovers. Still on my list but unfortunately getting more unobtainable. Would love to see it in the metal.
Absolutely!
My preference for Japan and Portugal is mostly sentimental, as I love these two countries and cultures.
For the map of Japan, there's also an aesthetic reason: I find it very beautiful!
But other personal preferences are just as good of course!
For the map of Japan, there's also an aesthetic reason: I find it very beautiful!
But other personal preferences are just as good of course!
Not my taste at all, for a watch like the Mercator. The spirit is not respected, in my opinion.