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Choose your favorite original Cornes de Vache
Vacheron Constantin's ref. 6087, with its cow horn lugs, has become a legend and was the source of inspiration for the 2015 Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 ref. 5000H.
But, as far as I know, its different versions have never been collected and compared.
So here are, presented together, the 11 variants I've been able to identify (out of 36, according to Christie's), organised by increasing movement number.
Hopefully, you will find this research and comparison interesting: in my previous thread, Did you say "Cornes de Vache"?, I had only scratched the surface of the different vintage variants.
Case size is 35 x 11.5 or 12.5 mm (information varies) and the movement is calibre 492.
1/ MOVEMENT NO. 466825
This first example is unique in a very strange way, as it is the only one to have been presented for sale three times, each time with a different dial.
a/ Silver dial, arabic numerals, dot indexes, no chrono scale sold in 1991
b/ Silver dial, arabic numerals, stick indexes, tachymeter scale sold in 1994
c/ Black dial, Roman numerals, stick indexes, tachymeter scale sold in 2011
credit: Antiquorum (1-2), Christie’s (3) & Amsterdam Vintage Watches
2/ MOVEMENT NO. 466826
3/ MOVEMENT NO. 466828
Silver dial, Arabic numerals, dot indexes, no chrono scale
Sold in 2007 & 2015
credit: Sotheby’s & Phillips
4/ MOVEMENT NO. 466829
Silver dial, Arabic numerals, dot indexes, no chrono scale
Sold in 2014
credit: Christie’s
5/ MOVEMENT NO. 469954
Silver dial signed "Milos", Roman numerals, dart indexes, no chrono scale: this configuration is very unique.
credit: Antiquorum
NB: EXAMPLES NO. 6 TO 9 SHARE THE SAME DIAL CONFIGURATION WITH THE WORD "TELEMETRE" AT 12 O'CLOCK & ARABIC NUMERALS WITH OPEN 6
6/ MOVEMENT NO. 469999
7/ MOVEMENT NO. 470022
Sold in 1990 & 1992
credit: Antiquorum
8/ MOVEMENT NO. 470023
Silver dial, Arabic numerals, stick indexes & "telemeter" scale
credit: Antiquorum
9/ MOVEMENT NO. 470026
Silver dial, Arabic numerals, stick indexes & "telemeter" scale
Sold in 2005 & 2006
credit: Antiquorum
10/ MOVEMENT NO. 470072
Sold in 2003
credit: Antiquorum, FHH & Perezcope
Sold in 2006, 2007, May 2011 (strangely, Antiquorum presents the piece without any movement or case number), June 2011 & October 2011: yes, this piece seems to have been sold 3 times during the same year...
11/ MOVEMENT NO. 470084
Silver dial, no numerals, stick indexes, no scale
credit: Antiquorum (1-3 & 5), Christie’s (4), Swiss Watches Magazine (5-7), Monochrome (8-9) & The Naked Watchmaker (10-16)
Do you have a favorite among them?
My personal favorite is no. 10 (and no. 1 with second dial, but I prefer the Roman numerals of no. 10).
I personally don't respond to the design of the Arabic numerals on the four "telemeter" versions (no. 6 to 9).
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
Choose your favorite original Cornes de Vache
Vacheron Constantin 's ref. 6087 , with its cow horn lugs , has become a legend and was the source of inspiration for the 2015 Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 ref. 5000H. But, as far as I know, its different versions have never been collected and compare...
I understand the appeal of this black dial, of course,
but I have mixed feelings about it, because it isn't original and it isn't known when and how it was added. Even aesthetically, it gives the watch a completely different identity to which I'm personally less sensible. That said, it is definitely very eye-...
Great reference. Is there a previous post where you present the more recent CdV releases?
All the above are colored gold. I am curious to know if there were past platinum releases. Regarding relatively recent/modern releases, the only dark dial was the steel Hodinkee version with grey dial, which was beautiful. I haven’t seen any for sale rece...
I have done a previous post which can be found here:
www.watchprosite.com Afaik, there was no pt version in the 1950s, but I might very well be wrong. And, even if my preference goes to rose gold/roman numerals variants, both vintage and modern, I certainly understand the appeal of the dark dials an...
Interesting to note that there...
aren't any white metal variants of the originals. Coloured gold are not to my taste, so my favorites would come from the reissues - either in PT or the ST one for Hodinkee.
I didn't find any white metal example,
but I only identified 11 out of alleged 36. For white metal lovers, the only way to go is indeed Pt or St 5000H. Best, Emmanuel
For me it is No:10 by a long way.
I usually prefer darker dials but with the watches presented here this is not the case as I really don't find the black variants at all appealing. Also whilst I usually like and appreciate vintage over modern most of the time in this instance I would much...
Like this rose gold 5000H?
Anyway, I'm glad you like no. 10 too, Marc. May I ask why you prefer the modern version over the vintage ones? As far as I'm concerned, I'm biased as I obviously love my modern CdV. Best, Emmaniel ...
And the blue tachymeter scale is an exquisite touch for me,
reason why I have a preference for the RG and PT variants.
I completely understand your preference for no. 11.
In my previous thread, I had used the photos made by Swiss Watches Magazine, which are gorgeous. And I'm glad you like no. 10 too. Best, Emmanuel ...
I ended up adding these gorgeous photos to this thread too.
I wanted to avoid repeating myself at first, but this photos are simply irresistible!
I might be a bit contrary here…
But in this case I prefer the modern reissue 😊 The vintage ones are all nice of course but the modern stainless steel really does it most for me 😊🤷🏻♂️
It’s definitely a great variant.
I just miss the blue tachymeter scale and I find the two-tone dial a bit too pronounced when looked at from certain angles. Best, Emmanuel ...
Of these, perhaps a telemetre dial, quattro.
Keep things a little sporty. Would be contended with any of them, frankly...
True, the "telemetre" dials add a sporty touch,
but I don't respond to the typography of the 6 (and 12). Anyway, I'm glad you like the 6087 too! Best, Emmanuel
Thanks for another brilliant article!
References flip-flop a bit but indicate the majority of 6087 watches were made in yellow gold (26 or 28) and six or eight in pink gold. True to the V&C collector's ethos of "expect the unexpected", there were two platinum pieces made BUT they didn't h...
Nico do you have any info
on the LeCoultre version, reference/number of pieces/dates of manufacture?
Some scarce information is provided here by MLG:
https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-31/lot-31 Other pages you might want to check are: https://www.berners.com/auction-lot/lecoultre-18k-gold-chronograph-watch_447431A932 (lots of detailed photos of the inner case back and mo...
Thank you so much for your insight!
First, I'm glad to hear that the black dial is fully legitimate, even though added later. It's still far from being my favorite, though, but at least there's no question concerning its authenticity. Then, thank you for pointing me to the late (1990) plati...
Agreed, the plat versions
Should’ve had a different reference to reflect the different case design, following VC’s own nomenclature rules. Another entry in their book of oddities ;-). Thanks for sharing the link to your LeCoultre entry, I missed it.
Sweet! What year?
Curious how you learned it was the 11th produced? A Christie's reference indicated manufacture in 1960 but I don't have much faith in auction descriptions.
I simply meant that my favorite is number 11 in his pictorial! 🙂
Obviously, I wish I actually had one 😉
Who wouldn't wish owning such a wonderful chronograph.
Antiquorum and Christie's seem to agree that this example, mvt no. 470084, was made in 1960, but who knows...
It's absolutely the cleanest and it's gorgeous, no doubt about that.
I just personally miss a chrono scale. Best, Emmanuel
