Vacheron Constantin

Greetings to all,

I have a VC whose history I seek.  I went to the VC forum... and unfortunately, I was black-balled from their site.  I'd like to post my VC pics, but am finding it difficult.  When I use the "insert image" button:  my PC gets a pop-up, which I'm not keen to allow.

The case back's No. is 3003xx and it has a V453 mvmt.  The most similar watch I've viewed is a pic from the 2007 Vintage Prices Coording German Catalogue.  My VC is similar to the 1945 pictured; however, the face differs.  Focus Numerals are Roman, i.e., XII, III and IX w/ ! indicators for the intervening hour marks.  

I've been told it's essence is presented in the VC Patrimony Contemporaine - manual wind offering:  which is the modern reintrepretation of the typical design of VC's from the '50s.  I personally, did not see the likeness and so informed the forum moderator in an apparent offending manner - thus becomming persona non-grata. 

A more germaine question is when did VC start putting their TM Cross on their watch faces?  

In viewing the inside underside of the back case cover, I noticed several etchings; apparantly from craftsmen that serviced the watch.  Does or did watchmakers subscribe to a protocol when performing such service; e.g., date/watch condition etc.?

Thanks, in advance, for any information you might provide. 

Sincerely...........  bandit

 

 

Hi bandit,

I hope I can be of help. The photo uploading window does work, and safely, and saves you from having to do coding and your own picture hosting. If you are still uncomfortable with it then you can send the pictures to me and I'll load them for you. PM forthcoming.

VC reference numbers speak only of the case, not the dial. There were many dial variations for each case style. Hopefully with a picture someone here can help ID you watch's reference number.

The Maltese Cross on the dial, as best as I can tell, didn't start getting applied until the late 1940's.

VC offers a Certificate of Authenticity for their watches that indicates reference number, serial numbers (which you already know), date of production, and perhaps some other details.

I look forward to seeing your watch.

Bill

Thank you, Bill:

Where does one find the RN?: on the movement itself?  Is calibre the same as movement stamping (in my case V453)?  Yet to read Landes' or Gould's pubs.

I'm feeling the dolt.  I've tried to copy pics from Vista photo galleries of my VC; but my PC doesn't want to do it.  Your "Image Insert" button does not insert the images.... how does one convert a jpeg to a URL address acceptable to your protocol?  I'm a dumb-ass here, so I'll attempt to send my VC pics via e-mail to you. 

OBTW, is there/was there a protocol among craftsmen Watchmakers (WM) regarding their etchings on the inside of  case backs when they serviced the piece?  Is there a registry of WMs; perhaps in an international WMs Guild? 

Thanks to all for you consideration.

bandit

Dear Bill and all Members:

I hope my pic posts of my VC have reached you.  I appologise for the poor quality.

Assuming that a Caliber V434 is a 1938 VC...  and a Caliber V454 is a 1943 VC; would it be logical to assume that my VC's Caliber 453 was crafted and produced between 1938 - 1943?  There seems to be a collolation between two corolaries, i.e., Date and Caliber.  Perhaps my VC is a Vintage piece (whatever that means... maybe a franken or just a Knock-off!).  

I intend to follow the underside case back etchings' history.  I'm surprised that so many of the "pristine" vintage VC pieces presented do not possess such hallmarks. 

My VC is not pristine... I allowed a "servicer" to loose the winding stem and replace it w/ an Omega one.  Is it now franken (certainately, not "born-on" - like I like my beer!)? ... less than that a bastard? ... if VC replaces it with a new/replacement stem... what then?; perhaps refurbished?  

No matter... I'll leave it to the next generation to determine my VC's value.

Thanks in advance for the consideration.

bandit  

This message has been edited by WHL on 2008-05-03 18:56:34

Just so everyone knows what the watch we are talking about is:



The reference number would be a four digit number on the inside of the case back in a watch from this time period. The annoying thing is that VC was very inconsistent
in engraving the reference number on its watches back in the 40's/50's. From the picture and looking in an old catalog of mine, this could be a Ref 4073 or 4217. I cannot
tell if the dial and crown are original or not. Helpful hint: A lot of people use a small tripod to take pictures of watches and jewelry. The case serial number will be a six digit
number on the inside of the case back.

The caliber is the 453. There will be a six digit movement serial number also engraved on the movement. It is not an exact science to date a VC by that serial number.

The caliber 453 has the seconds hand at 6 o'clock. The caliber 454 is a 453 caliber modified to have the seconds hand in the center on the dial. They existed at the same
time and can only help to ID a watch's date of birth in a very general way. For instance, I know that your watch is from the 40's or 50's because it has the 453 caliber. The 434
was a chronograph caliber, completely unrelated to the 454/454 family of calibers.

When sending in the watch to VC for service (to get the correct stem. BTW, a replaced stem and crown will not negatively impact the value of the watch) ask them to tell you
what year the watch was manufactured.

It is unfortunate that there are unathentic vintage VC's floating around out there. Dealers are out to make money and are not beyond selling fakes to make a buck. "Buyer beware"
applies.

I am not aware of any guild that could tell you who worked on your watch. Good luck on your search.

Bill

Hi

i realised that i do have a exact same watch as the one shown in the picture. Its from 1940s and manual winding. Funny thing is that when i wind it, it feels like a pocket watch movement. ( can feel the tension and "loud" clicking sound). Is it the same for yours?

so how valuable or rare is such watch?

 rgds

KK

If you could take a picture of your VC and share it here that would be great.

One aspect of VC watches that I really like is the sound of the click when winding the watch. While simple round VC watches from the 40's are usually not highly valued (approx. $4000-6000, depending on condition, with premiums paid for special lugs or fancy cases), they are not all too common. What is interesting is that VC back then offered many variations of dials that they put  in any particular case.


Bill