Swiss gold Chronomètre Royal with 24 hour dial Circa 1900

Gold open faced with lever escapement
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A large Swiss 18 carat yellow gold keyless pocket lever Chronomètre Royal with a 24 hour dial, circa 1900. A polished case, a sunray engine turned back and a hinged gold cuvette. White enamel dial with bold radial Roman numerals, inner red 24 hour numerals, outer minute track, large subsidiary seconds dial and yellow gold spade hands. Frosted gilt movement, 18 jewels, wolf’s tooth winding, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan neck micrometre regulator. Dial, case, cuvette and movement signed.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Signed: Vacheron Constantin  Genève
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This Chronomètre Royal is particularly unusual in having a dial with additional 24 hour numerals in red. The name Chronomètre Royal was registered on May 28, 1907, under the number 22193. The Royal Chronometer name, for the English speaking market, was registered on May 8 1908, under the number 23872. The first of these was a series of pocket watches delivered to Brazil. A certain A. Campos, one of Vacheron & Constantin’s agents, had organized a lottery system in which subscribers would pay 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, utilizing the calibre 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, and rarely in silver ones.–