Swiss gold keyless Chronomètre Royal pocket Circa 1900

Gold open faced pocket watch by Vacheron Constantin
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A Swiss yellow gold open faced keyless Chronomètre Royal pocket watch, circa 1900. This watch features a frosted gilt movement with 18 jewels, wolf’s tooth winding, a straight line lever escapement, a cut bimetallic compensation balance, a blued steel Breguet balance spring, and a swan neck micrometre regulator. The white enamel dial showcases bold radial Arabic numerals, an outer minute track, a large subsidiary seconds dial, and yellow gold spade hands. The polished case is made of 18k yellow gold, elegantly engine turned, and includes a blanco cartouche and a hinged gold cuvette. 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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The movement functions correctly. The dial is in excellent condition, free from imperfections. The case shows minimal wear, barely noticeable to the naked eye, particularly on the band and case back. Overall, it is in outstanding condition.
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Jean-Marc Vacheron was born in 1731 and died in 1805. He founded a watch workshop in the Geneva district of Saint Gervais in 1755. In 1785, his son Abraham took over the company, which was still small. The nobility, clergy and wealthy merchants favoured their watches. Sales deteriorated dramatically during the French Revolution, and Abraham faced numerous problems. According to tradition, he married and attached his wife’s surname to his name. Thus, the name of the workshop was changed to Vacheron-Girod. At the beginning of the 19th Century, Abraham’s son Jacques Barthélemy Vacheron took over management of the company, which changed the name to Vacheron-Chossat. On numerous business trips to Italy, France and Germany, Jacques Barthélemy found new customers for their sophisticated products, including pocket watches with flat movements for the time, hunting cased watches and minute repeaters built into expensive and elegant cases.
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In 1819, Vacheron brought in the son of a cloth merchant, François Constantin, as a partner to support the distribution of watches and the company became known as Vacheron & Constantin. Constantin gained his first experience in the watch industry as a salesman for Jean-François Bautte, and his exceptional abilities soon overcame the company’s previous financial difficulties. Sales figures rose significantly, and Vacheron & Constantin began selling in New York by Jean Magnin and in New Orleans by Brey in 1830. In 1970 the ‘&’ was taken from the name, henceforth the company was called Vacheron Constantin. It is the oldest continually active watch manufacturer in the world. The brand logo is the Maltese cross. Today, Vacheron Constantin is part of the Richemont group.