jmousey
236
The dial making process is called champleve enemel
Wont go into all the intricate details but essentially, the words VC, Geneve and the second track are etched into a dial base. This etching forms a channel. The enamel, which is powdered glass, is painted into the channels. The dial is then fired at 800 degrees in an oven multiple times until the enamel hardens. The dial is then polished and a protective resin layer called zapon is added. The enamel sits slightly above the channels which is why when you look from angle they look raised.
I’ve taken a photo of the book “The Dial” by Dr Helmut Crott which will assist in understanding. 
The Forgotten Calibers: Vacheron & Constantin Sub-Second Automatics
History of V&C Automatics V&C’s first automatic wrist watch was introduced in 1951, the 12-ligne bumper-winding caliber 477 with central seconds. Like all of their calibers since 1938, it was based upon a rough-finished ebauche from their movement supplie...
Thank you so very much for that...
Enlightening and educational post. Indeed this should be added to the pantheon of true collectors’ pieces. Wonderful read. Julian
Thanks a lot for this in depth report and huge congratulations for this treasure.
Your new timepiece is really stunning (shape, style, dial... everything in fact!). Even the word “automatic” is perfectly integrated and not disturbing at all (some today’s brands should learn from the past). If 34 of this model were made in 1954, do you ...
Alas, I don't know
The numbers for 1954 were provided by Antiquorum. V&C introduced several new models in 1955 to celebrate their bicentennial, which must have occupied the design and production teams a good deal. They also split their supply of the cal. 498 between two ref...
Maybe Alexandre Ghotbi (Alex nickname on this forum) should be able to help you (us) about this question in my opinion
You should send him a PM with your question. Best wishes Alkiro
Thanks for the suggestion
Alex is a great friend and resource on things VC. My experience from The Hour Lounge was that VC wouldn't answer such questions but perhaps I should reach out to the Heritage Dept and see if that policy has changed.
Great post!
Thank you for the presentation! Again, congrats on a lovely watch! Best Blomman
Wonderful, educational post
Wonderful watch as well. Love the dial color, the case shape and depth; everything! All the best, Alex
A new reference to add to the list of sub-second automatics
While poking around the official VC website today, in particular the FiftySix collection, I was amazed to find a new photo uploaded only yesterday. Those that recall the launch of this new line in January will recall that inspiration for the case style wa...
I second your excitement Tick-Talk.........
I am really enjoying this vintage Vacheron. If VC re-issues a modern piece similar looking to yours, mine, or the one above I'd be super excited! Though I am doubtful that they will be able to capture the look of our pieces within the current the 56 line ...
At times like this I am glad to be an aficionado of the Ampersand
and thus avoiding critique of modern offerings ;-) Vintage is another matter! You may enjoy analyzing the dial of this 4956, found on another sales forum :-0 Obviously refinished, and a shame to have obliterated the AUTOMATIC script, but I also suspect th...
I am very lucky to see the content you released a few years ago. I would like to ask, are the parts between 498 and 1071 universal?
I am very lucky to see the content you released a few years ago. I would like to ask, are the parts between 498 and 1071 universal?
Do you mean interchangeable?
The dimensions of these two movements differs ever so slightly so main components such as base plate, winding rotor and mainspring barrel aren’t interchangeable between these movements. Some items do share the same part numbers, ie, regulator spring, wind...
I would say yes
because they share the same part number. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
AP caliber 2070
AP also used the automatic caliber . VC caliber1071=AP caliber2071 caliber1070 maybe=caliber2070 photos from 1stdibs ...
Is this a sub-seconds watch?
Thanks for sharing these images, I'm assuming it has central seconds? Many years ago, in the Purists days, someone declared they had determined only about 200 calibre 2070s were produced by AP between 1959 and 1961 but I can't confirm this. Audemars Pigue...
sure
credit:1stdibs Hi.Do you have any information about snake on vintage V&C ? Please see my post ...
The 4958 sold at Antiquorum is back on the market after 20 years!
It'll be auctioned off by Christies in a fortnight apparently. We'll see where it lands. The price 20 years was a tad on the high side. On another note, and quite coincidentally, it seems another one of these rare watches just surfaced on Reddit today.
Thank you so much for all this information!
your research on Vacheron allowed me to learn much more about my 4958 ! ...
Your watch is very nice and looks to be very original.
Please don’t ever have the dial “cleaned”. As you will no doubt have noticed, only the VC and Geneve logos are in enamel, the words automatic and Swiss are transfer print. Any washing of the dial will instantly make these two texts disappear.
The buckle is 100% original
Which is more much uncommon than you might think. It’s still hard to know how so many people “lose” their original 18K gold buckles, but that’s the reality with many of these vintage watches.
Great point
Seconds marks are also in durable hard enamel. It was a labour intensive process to invest in what appears, on the surface (pun intended), to be a plain-looking watch face. Touches like this set V&C and a few other haute horlogerie brands apart. As yo...
Lovely!
Can you PM the serial numbers to me? I'd like to keep track of these rare birds. Feel most welcome to post movement pictures if you have them.
The dial making process is called champleve enemel
Wont go into all the intricate details but essentially, the words VC, Geneve and the second track are etched into a dial base. This etching forms a channel. The enamel, which is powdered glass, is painted into the channels. The dial is then fired at 800 d...
It was made as a competitor to the PP 2526
And I kind of wish they made it with an enamel dial too.
I had her opened up today!
It was impressive to see that little heart still bravely beating after all this time - I'll try to send you a video in PM. Here are some elements that caught my attention following your original post: - you can see in the attached picture that "P 499" is ...
An interesting development!
Thank-you, your question has identified an error in my original post that will be corrected Looking at the parts catalog, I find a reverser and reverser connecting wheel for the calibre 498/499 movement, so it is bi-directional winding. The JLC 493 they w...
Yes, it is close
and supports that your 498 movement is likely original to the watch, with a later repair. As your watch has been handed down through the family, do you have a record/receipt for this repair?