Swiss 18 carat gold open faced lever pocket watch Circa 1910

Gold gentlemen’s watch
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A Swiss 18 carat yellow gold open faced keyless pocket watch made by Vacheron Constantin SA in Geneva, circa 1910. A solid case with an engine turned back. White enamel dial with Arabic hour numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and gold spade hands. The gilded brass movement with a going barrel, gold screwed chaton on the central wheel, straight line lever escapement, compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, and an index regulator with swan neck spring and micrometric screw. Dial, case and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Signed: Chronomètre Royal Vacheron & Constantin Genève
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The name Chronomètre Royal was registered on May 28, 1907. The Royal Chronometer name, for the English speaking market, was registered on May 8, 1908. The first of these was a series of pocket watches delivered to Brazil. Mr A. Campos, a Vacheron & Constantin agent, had organised a lottery system in which subscribers paid a monthly fee to take part in a series of draws. The holders of the winning tickets would be given a watch, and the other subscribers would be entered into the next draw. This system proved to be so successful that A Campos delivered a total of 3022 watches between 22 October 1907 and 31 December 1911 – an amazing 80% of the production of the Chronomètre Royal, utilising the caliber RA22’’’73 made during this period. The Chronomètre Royal was made in several sizes, from 12 to 22 lines, and was housed mostly in gold cases, more rarely in silver ones.