Vacheron & Constantin 18K Gold Fancy-Lug Wristwatch, Originally Retailed by Türler Zurich, 1940s, Swiss

Offered for your consideration is this exceptionally beautiful and impeccably preserved Vacheron & Constantin wristwatch from the 1940s, crafted entirely from solid 18K gold and originally retailed by the prestigious Türler of Zurich.

Vacheron & Constantin occupies an exceptional position in the history of fine Swiss watchmaking. Founded in Geneva in 1755, it is the world’s oldest continuously operating watch manufacture and traditionally stands alongside Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet among the celebrated “Holy Trinity” of Swiss haute horlogerie.

The present watch demonstrates beautifully why.

Its substantial solid-gold case is distinguished by extraordinary sculpted fancy lugs which form an integral part of the design, giving the watch a striking architectural presence far greater than its refined 32 mm dimensions might suggest.

Within this dramatic case sits an entirely original dial of exceptional restraint and balance, with applied gold Roman numerals and baton markers completing the classic Mid-Century aesthetic.

This watch makes a particularly convincing case that it can.

Its elegant proportions, restrained dial and sculptural gold case perfectly embody classic Mid-Century design, yet the same clean forms and understated sophistication continue to inspire the finest dress watches today.

At the height of fashion when created in the 1940s, this Vacheron & Constantin remains equally elegant and wearable more than eighty years later—and possesses precisely the kind of design that can pass from one generation to the next without becoming dated.

Adding considerably to the interest of this watch is its distinguished Swiss retail provenance, having originally been retailed by Türler of Zurich.

Türler is one of Switzerland’s most prestigious luxury watch and jewellery retailers and, for generations, has offered important watches from the finest Swiss manufactures.

Retailer-signed watches belong to an era when leading manufacturers supplied selected prestigious jewellers with watches bearing the retailer’s name on the dial. The Türler signature therefore adds an especially attractive historical dimension, identifying the distinguished Zurich house through which this Vacheron & Constantin originally entered the market.

Inside the solid 18K gold case is a beautifully executed Vacheron & Constantin mechanical movement fitted with 17 jewels and adjusted to temperature.

Such attention to adjustment and construction reflects the uncompromising standards traditionally associated with Geneva haute horlogerie.

The case itself is equally indicative of the watch’s quality, bearing the manufacture’s own goldsmith’s mark together with official Swiss hallmarks confirming its solid 18K / 0.750 gold construction.

Thus, the sophistication visible from the outside is fully matched by the watchmaking concealed within.

This exceptional Vacheron & Constantin wristwatch remains in excellent vintage condition.

The substantial solid 18K gold case and its remarkable sculpted fancy lugs are beautifully preserved, while the entirely original dial remains crisp and highly attractive.

The watch has been fully serviced by our Master Swiss watchmaker and is functioning properly.

Vacheron Constantin traces its history to 1755, when Jean-Marc Vacheron established himself as an independent watchmaker in Geneva. The company has continued in operation ever since, giving it a unique position in the history of Swiss watchmaking.

Jean-Marc eventually passed the business to his son Abraham, who guided it through the difficult years surrounding the French Revolution.

A decisive new chapter began in 1819 when François Constantin joined Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron as a business partner. An energetic international businessman, Constantin travelled extensively to develop new markets for the company’s watches, helping transform the Geneva workshop into an increasingly important international manufacture.

Another major development followed in 1839 with the appointment of Georges-Auguste Leschot to supervise production. A gifted watchmaker, inventor and engineer, Leschot developed specialized machinery that enabled components to be manufactured with far greater precision and interchangeability, helping advance the standardization of movement construction.

Throughout the nineteenth century, Vacheron & Constantin became increasingly renowned for sophisticated complications, exceptionally refined movements and elaborate decorative craftsmanship.

With the growing acceptance of the wristwatch during the early twentieth century, the company applied those same standards of Geneva watchmaking to a new generation of elegant wristwatches.

By the 1940s, when the present watch was created, Vacheron & Constantin had accumulated nearly two centuries of uninterrupted watchmaking experience and was producing some of the most refined dress watches of the period.

The present 18K gold wristwatch is a particularly elegant expression of that tradition, uniting sculptural Mid-Century design, distinguished Zurich provenance and the exceptional mechanical craftsmanship for which Vacheron & Constantin has long been celebrated.