Swiss gold minute repeating keyless dress watch Circa 1921

Gentlemen “Chronomètre” dress watch
–
Very fine and elegant, 18K gold, keyless, minute-repeating gentlemen “Chronomètre” dress watch, circa 1921.
18k gold case, smooth, gold hinged cuvette with inscription to Charles P. McCormick. Silver dial, applied gold Arabic hours, Champlevé minute track and subsidiary seconds, gold leaf hands. Bridge movement, rhodium-plated, ground, 2 hammers, 2 gongs, gold screw compensation balance.
–
Signed: Vacheron Constantin Genève
–
The unusual feature of the watch is the fact that it was made in 1921 and sold only in 1949. This might have to do with the fact that the watch is engraved “Chronomètre”. Possibly, the company was experimenting on improving the quality of the watch or the company might have submitted it to an observatory timing contest. The watch belonged to the legendary President and CEO of McCormick & Co, Charles P.McCormick, who, during the depression years, using revolutionary methods, changed the company from being in the red into a solid profit making organization. The date on the watch coincides with the publication of his book “The Power of People”.