VACHERON & CONSTANTIN MERCATOR REF. 43050, SOLD IN 1995 Two body circular 18K gold case, n. 656947, curved lugs with fluted edges, reeded snap on back with sapphire glass, winding crown with Maltese cross. Vacheron & Constantin alligator strap and 18K gold deployant clasp.
Solid 22K gold dial signed beneath, map of the continents engraved and enamelled, signed aside “J & L. Genbrugge”, retrograde indications for the hours and the minutes with Arabic numerals. Gold compass-shaped hands.
Signed self-winding movement, rhodium-plated caliber 1120/2, n. 798278, 36 jewels, suspended barrel, rail-rotor with ruby bearing and with 21K gold insert engraved “1594 Gerard Mercator 1994”, lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted for heat and cold, isochronism and five positions, flat hairspring, KIF shock-absorber.
Fitted with Vacheron & Constantin mahogany box covered in solid elm, booklet with the history of Gerard Mercator and the watch, warranty.
Diameter Ø: 36 mm
Note: working.

In 1994 Vacheron & Constantin, in parallel with the Antiquorum auction "The Art of Vacheron & Constantin", premiered its latest creation designed to celebrate and commemorate the Flemish humanist and cartographer Gerardus Mercator. Result of the collaboration between the most skilled Swiss artisans and watchmakers, this watch with a double retrograde function for the indication of hours and minutes boasts a unique dial, where thanks to the skill of enamellers Lucie and Jean Genbrugge, reproductions of geographic maps depicted by Mercator more than 400 years ago came to life.
Inspired by the "Géographique" collection of the 1940’s, the Mercator presents mechanical and aesthetic features that give the watch a timeless beauty. Just as Mercator's revolutionary way of representing the world on a flat surface opened the door to a new era, this timepiece is set to become a unique and emblematic collectible watch. The watch included in this auction is in excellent condition, having been worn very rarely, and is accompanied by its full set of accessories.