Vacheron Constantin

Tick Talk
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A general response....

The description of "curvex" came from a Gruen design of the 1930s that was a continuation of the rectangular watch theme popular at the time.  A true "curvex" watch is just that...curved.  The case curves to match the shape of the wrist.  Many other manufacturers of yesterday and today simply curve the top of the case and crystal, while leaving the bottom as a flat platform.  This eliminates the challenge of the curvex design, which was making a movement to fit a curved case!  Gruen used shaped movements that were arranged on multiple planes (another term of the day referenced this...duoplan and polyplan) so as to fit the internal curve of the watch case.  In fact, their advertising featured this as an advantage over the traditional method of hiding a smallish round movement inside the popular rectangular cases so as to avoid manufacturing a true shaped movement.  For Gruen, their selling feature was size...the shaped multi-plane movement was more robust and capable of better timekeeping over the very small round calibers used by the competition.

I would be surprised (actually, shocked) if your V&C is a true curvex.  If your watch has a flat bottom rectangular case with a shaped movement, it is still a very desirable piece.  If it has a rectangular case and one of those "smallish" round calibers, then IMHO the collector's value is a bit diminished.  But, as with all things V&C, other factors such as dial design and case shape can elevate interest.  Hence the need for pictures....