Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Vacheron Constantin Yellow Gold Pocket Watch, 1915s
- Maker / attribution
- Vacheron Constantin (maker)
- Date
- 1915s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 2640
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2640)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Vacheron Constantin Yellow Gold Pocket Watch (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 2640), this is a pocket watch by Vacheron Constantin, made in Switzerland, dated 1915s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop
Step back in time with the Vacheron Constantin Yellow Gold Pocket Watch from the 1915s, a masterpiece that epitomizes the elegance and craftsmanship of the early 20th century. This “Chronometre Royal” watch is not just a timekeeping device but a piece of horological art, marked by its movement number 345042 and case number 211035, both signed to affirm its authenticity and provenance. The watch operates on a 20 ligne calibre, ensuring impeccable precision and reliability. Its white enamel dial adorned with Breguet numerals exudes classic sophistication, while the 18k yellow gold case, measuring a substantial 57mm, features an exquisite engraved sunburst decoration on the back, making it a true collector’s item. Originating from Switzerland during the Art Nouveau period, this Vacheron Constantin creation is in excellent condition, reflecting the meticulous care it has received over the past century. Ideal for connoisseurs of fine craftsmanship and timeless design, this pocket watch is a testament to Vacheron Constantin’s enduring legacy in the world of luxury timepieces. Introducing the “Chronometre Royal” watch, a timeless piece from circa 1915. This exquisite timepiece boasts a movement number of 345042, which is signed for authenticity. The case number is 211035, and is also signed for provenance. The watch runs on a 20 ligne calibre, ensuring precision and accuracy in telling time. The dial is a classic white enamel with Breguet numerals, providing elegance and readability. The watch case is made of 18k yellow gold, measuring 57mm, and features an engraved sunburst decoration on the back, adding a touch of sophistication. This watch is the perfect accessory for anyone who appreciates fine craftsmanship and timeless design. Creator: Vacheron Constantin Case Material: 18k Gold,Yellow Gold Case Dimensions: Diameter: 57 mm (2.25 in) Style: Art Nouveau Place of Origin: Switzerland Period: 1910-1919 Date of Manufacture: 1915’s Condition: Excellent
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
Atlas type guide
Pocket watches
The pocket watch was the dominant personal timekeeper from the late seventeenth century until the First World War. Its development tracks the history of the escapement: verge watches with fusees until the late eighteenth century; Thomas Mudge's lever escapement (c. 1755) and the cylinder escapement popularised by George Graham and later by Swiss makers; and the Swiss and English lever watches of the nineteenth century. Lépine's bar-bridge calibre and keyless winding made watches thinner and easier to use.
Industrialisation transformed the trade: American factories such as Waltham (from 1850) and Elgin produced interchangeable parts by machine, and Swiss makers responded with their own mechanisation after the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. By 1900 a reliable watch was affordable to millions; the finest makers continued to produce complications and precision watches.
What to look for
- The escapement: verge (crown wheel), cylinder, duplex, English or Swiss lever.
- Key winding (a square arbor in dial or back) or keyless crown winding.
- Signatures and serial numbers on the movement, dial and inside case back.
- Hallmarks, case maker's marks and gold or silver standards stamped in the case.
- Dial material: enamel, silver, gold, later printed metal.
Dating clues
- Verge watches dominate before c. 1800; cylinder watches c. 1770–1900; lever watches after c. 1820.
- Keyless winding: increasingly common after c. 1860.
- Manufacturer serial number lists exist for Waltham, Elgin, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and others.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Verge escapementDetached lever escapementFuseeIdentification Centre
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