393 - Vacheron & Constantin - Verger Frères

Vacheron & Constantin - Verger Frères An elegant, fine Geneva dress watch in a platinum case Movm. No. 399810, Case No. 9710, Dimensions 43 mm, circa 1929, Weight 52 g, Origin Schweiz Case: Platinum, smooth, contemporary engraved monogram "GHT", push back, case maker's punch mark "VF" (Verger Frères). Dial: Silvered, applied Arabic numerals, leaf hands. Movm.: Bridge movement, lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance. With its clean Art Deco design, the watch represents perfectly the style of the golden 1920s. The condition of both case and dial is excellent; the thin platinum case has a pleasant feel. Verger Frères, Paris The name of Ferdinand Verger stands at the beginning of two generations of designers and casemakers. In 1872 he established the first firm in the Place des Victoires in Paris. Later in 1901 he bought the firm of Lepine from Roux - as well situated in the Place des Victoires. Thirteen years later he sold what was left from the merchandise to M. Louis Leroy. He only kept the drade mark which he registered in 1917. Before in 1911 the firm had moved. the new adress was: 51, rue Sainte Anne. The name was Verger frères and the master mark became "V.F." The brothers became famous for their cases and jewels which they made for the most exquisite jewelers of the world: Tiffany, Boucheron, Cartier, van Cleef & Apples, Mauboussin and Ostertag to mention only some of their customers. Verger frères became as well Paris agents for Vacheron & Constantin: they bought movements and cases for the French market. With their outstanding originality they created models like the well known "bras en I'air" which shows Buddah or a mandarin. Other famous names of their models are "Radiateur" or the "Montres à Volets" which were often sold as a purse clasp produced for Ostertag, Boucheron Mauboussin, Tiffany, Gübelin, Van Cleef & Apples for which they specially designed the "Montres Cadenas". For Cartier they created the unique mystery clocks which were in the 20s and 30s among the most splendid products in the Cartier collection. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running.