Swiss heavy and very fine pocket Chronometre Royal Circa 1910

Gold pocket chronometer
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A heavy and very fine pocket 18 carat gold chronometer ‘Chronometre Royal’, made by Vacheron & Constantin in Genève, Switzerland, circa 1910. The open faced case of this pocket chronometer is numbered, crafted from 18 Carat gold and engine turned on the back lid. The white enamel dial has black Roman hour numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial with black Arabic numerals at six o’clock and pink gold hands. The very fine quality Geneva pocket lever chronometer movement is numbered. Dial, cuvette and movement are signed and engraved with ‘Chronometre Royal’.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 134 g
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Signed: Vacheron & Constantin, Genève
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Chronomètre Royal was registered in Switzerland on May 28, 1907, under No. 22 193. The Royal Chronometer name, for the English speaking market, was registered in Switzerland on May 8 1908, under the number 23 872. The first of these was a series of pocket watches delivered to Brazil. A certain A. Campos, one of Vacheron & Constantin’s agents, had organised a lottery system in which subscribers would pay a monthly fee to participate 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 so successful that A. Campos delivered a total of 3 022 watches between October 22, 1907, and December 31, 1911 – an amazing 80% of the production of the Chronomètre Royal, utilising the Cal. RA 22’73 was 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.