Vacheron Constantin

Hi all, I hope this is within forum protocal. I just opened the safe deposit box and found this VC watch inherited years ago. Even with the detailed appraisal (from 1996), I don't know the model name or year of manufacture (although I see some lists onlin...  

V&C watches before 1938 did not have model names or numbers. Here are some observations on your watch: The movement number is circa 1926-28, but the case number should also have six digits so that is a major concern. There is a possibility the case wa... 

I spent a couple of hours online before posting, including in The World of Vacheron Constantin, trying to pinpoint the watch. Thus your reply indeed adds to the mystery (is it possibly not a real V&C, even with professional appraisal involving Christie's ... 

One slip and you'll have a nasty scratch :-( I hate to continue speculating based on a document; the watch will tell its story once you have the right pictures.

Assuming it is still functional, how would one get this watch to start moving... just winding gently?

There is no need to make it run for long, so only wind it until it starts ticking, to confirm that it runs. Then, don't wind it again until you have it serviced. The watchmaker who does the service should be able to make all the photos you need, or at lea... 

Still working on having someone open watch, but here is the email I got back: "Our Heritage Department in Switzerland responded today regarding the case/serial number 61002 and the movement number 404438 of your timepiece. These numbers correspond to a mo... 

V&C exported kits, consisting of movement, dial and hands, to North America to avoid the duties charged on complete watches. With this information, your case may be marked EER for Edmond E. Robert, their NA distributor based in New York.

But I would just make the ( rather obvious) observation that the dial looks very like the dial of the first Reverso from 1931. If it was made by an American watchmaker perhaps they may have copied that?

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the watch could have been made at any time after that. If if was made before 1931 the resemblance to the Reverso dial seems uncanny.

look like a crude attempt to copy this 1931 Reverso (picture from website of ) ...