Vacheron Appraisal

Vintage Vacheron Constantin 18k Gold Dress Watch with Sub-Seconds

This is a vintage Vacheron Constantin manual-wind wrist watch, likely dating from the 1940s to early 1950s. The watch features a round case crafted from 18k yellow gold, exhibiting a warm patina and visible surface scratches, particularly on the bezel and the downward-curving lugs. The silvered dial has aged gracefully with a subtle matte texture and light stippled oxidation consistent with its age. Notable design elements include applied yellow gold Roman numerals at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 positions, interspersed with baton hour markers and a thin outer railway minutes track. A prominent crosshair sub-seconds dial is positioned at 6 o'clock, featuring a fine guilloché-like concentric pattern and a small leaf-style hand. The main hands are gold baton-style. The brand signature 'VACHERON & CONSTANTIN GENEVE' is printed in black at 12 o'clock, notably using the ampersand which is correct for this era. The acrylic crystal shows several surface scuffs and scratches. The watch is fitted with a non-original black leather strap. The original crown is present, showing fine serration. Overall, the piece displays honest wear and retains high-quality craftsmanship characteristic of top-tier Swiss horology.