DESCRIPTION:
EPW - Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, Corps of Engineers U.S.A. military chronograph with extremely low contract serial #3, 52mm, coin silver OF original Vacheron & Constantin case with "Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., No. 3" marked to rear, signed silver cuvette, white enamel SS dial, pierced hands, lever escapement with capped escape wheel, white metal hairspring, 20J, gilt mvt, s#372017. A superb piece for the military watch collector, the single digit contract serial #3 of this example is by far the lowest we have seen among Vacheron Corps of Engineer chronographs we have encountered. Beyond this we observe several other notable features of this example that are different from the usual: Its movement serial number of 372017 is substantially lower than the typical range of others which are above 380000 (and those with this ebauche style are typically over 382000), its case features a more elegant engraving font to its rear and cuvette, some of its movement markings are located differently than normally seen among examples with this ebauche type, and it has a white metal hairspring rather than the typical blued hairspring.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, good chronograph function, scattered fine scratches, few areas of steelwork with oxide, missing a case screw; dial with hl near 9, small edge chip near 6, luminous material fully lost from hour numerals; fine hands, hour and minute with full loss of luminous material, subsidiary seconds-hand is missing its tail; case shows little wear, moderate patina with some uneven areas of darker spotting, scratch to bezel near 9, few small nicks, no dents or dings, excellent engraving detail; tight bow, crown shows light wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$2000
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$3000
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