Messages: 2644 Location: East Coast, USA
Registered: November 2003
A look at a rare, skeletonized Vacheron chronograph >>>
Wed, 08 August 2012 18:05
Hi All,
Here's something really uncommon. It's a manual-winding, Vacheron "Les Complications" reference 47100 chronograph produced in the early 1990s. According to Vacheron's Alex Ghotbi, it was introduced in 1991 and last featured in Vacheron's catalogs in 1992. Less than 100 total were made in yellow gold and platinum. This example was part of an Antiquorum auction that took place in 2009.
Its movement is a skeletonized Vacheron caliber 1140, based on the Lemania 2320 column-wheel chronograph...
The extremely thin dial is made of sapphire crystal, allowing full display of the movement's bottom plate. The balance wheel is visible at 12 o'clock...
A Maltese cross was formed on the skeletonized mainspring barrel. Note the incredibly ornate hand engraving on all surfaces of the movement. Even the rims and axles of some gears are hand engraved - take a look at the gear right in the center, beneath the center of the hour and minute hands...
The case measures 38 mm in diameter...
...and is just 10 mm thick...
Slender baton hands in-laid with black enamel indicate the time...
Rare, complicated, and sized well for today's tastes, it's a watch that's high on my wish list.
- Paul Boutros