Vacheron Constantin

Tick Talk
[Vacheron Moderator]
2195

• Show profile
• Show other posts

By The Numbers

A couple of fleabay "creations" are worthy of close examination IMHO.  First is a most outrageous fake steel wristwatch.  While the crude dial might turn you away immediately, its worth looking at the hodge-podge of case and movement numbers.  Note the two different movement numbers and mythical case number!  Obviously the seller doesn't think much of Rolls Royce fans, and even less of V&C collectors :-(

This next pocket watch is much nicer in presentation, but more disappointing because the seller is an established vintage watch dealer.  The lack of markings on the inside case back and a non-V&C 7-digit case number point to a re-cased movement.  With the value of scrap gold being what it is, any steel-cased V&C watch requires extra scrutiny nowadays.

There are exceptions to the usual pattern of V&C case numbering when it comes to private label watches.  When Verger Freres manufactured cases for their V&C collaborative pieces, they assigned their own case numbers.  Private label watches with V&C-marked movements but cased locally also had non-V&C case numbers.  Private label movements (including Merimont) would feature a code letter/number within the movement number and proper V&C markings under the dial plate.  With these, the VC archives can at least confirm the movement number and when/where it was exported.  Confusing, but part of the fun collecting vintage

Site Info.