18K White Gold Vacheron Constantin Pocket Watch c.1960s | Original V&C Box

With its 18K white gold case, sophisticated mid-century styling, signed 20-jewel movement, and original V&C presentation box, this is an appealing vintage example from one of Switzerland's most historically important watch manufacturers.

Details:

MAKE

Manufacturer: Vacheron Constantin
Country: Switzerland
Type: Unisex
Serial #: 694560
Circa Date: 1960s

CASE

Size: 33.4mm.

Style: Open Face.

Material: 18K White Gold.

Decorations:  Plain.

Conditions:  C  3  (The case is in Very Good condition)

DIAL

Color: Silver.

Type: Metal.

Numerals: Non-Numeric Markers.

Hands: Baton Hands.

Conditions:  D  3  (The dial is in Very Good condition)

MOVEMENT

Jewels: 20 Jewels.

Setting: Stem Set.

Escapement: Lever Escapement.

Material: Nickel.

Layout: ¾-Plate Layout.

Signed:  Yes.

Conditions:  M  3  (The movement is in Very Good condition)

The watch will be timed out and refreshed by our watchmaker if needed prior to shipment.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and provide the best representation of the case, dial, movement, box, and overall condition.

Mid-Century Vacheron Constantin Design

This watch has a very different character from the elaborately decorated pocket watches of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

By the 1960s, luxury watch design had embraced a cleaner and more restrained aesthetic. This Vacheron Constantin reflects that approach with its plain white gold case, silver dial, minimalist hour markers, and slender baton hands.

The simplicity is deliberate. There is little ornamentation to distract from the proportions, precious-metal case, and quality of the movement.

At 33.4mm, it is also considerably more compact than the large American pocket watches of earlier generations, reinforcing its elegant mid-century character.

Solid 18K White Gold Case

The solid 18K white gold case is one of the watch's most important features.

White gold provides the understated appearance of a white metal while retaining the intrinsic appeal of a precious-metal case. Its cool tone also works particularly well with the silver dial and minimalist markers.

The absence of elaborate engraving gives the watch an exceptionally clean appearance and allows the case shape and proportions to remain the focus.

Signed 20-Jewel Movement

Inside is a signed 20-jewel Vacheron Constantin movement with nickel finish and ¾-plate construction.

The movement uses a traditional lever escapement and is stem set, providing the convenient crown-operated setting system expected of a high-quality twentieth-century pocket watch.

The movement remains in M3 – Very Good condition.

For a collector, the signed movement is especially important because it provides the mechanical substance behind the understated exterior.

Original Vacheron & Constantin Box

The inclusion of the original Vacheron & Constantin box significantly enhances the presentation of this watch.

Vintage presentation boxes were frequently separated from their watches over the decades. Having the appropriate original branded box allows this example to be displayed much more closely to the way it would have been presented when new.

I would make sure the box is shown clearly in the photo gallery—including at least one image of the watch displayed inside it—because it is a strong selling feature.

A Different Kind of Pocket Watch

By the 1960s, the wristwatch had long since become the dominant form of personal timekeeping. A fine 18K gold pocket watch from this period therefore occupies a different place in horological history from the utilitarian pocket watches of earlier generations.

This example is particularly appealing because it combines the traditional format of a mechanical pocket watch with the minimalist design language of mid-century Swiss luxury watchmaking.

The result is a discreet, elegant timepiece that is unmistakably different from both an antique nineteenth-century pocket watch and a conventional 1960s wristwatch.

Collector Highlights

This Vacheron Constantin combines a particularly attractive group of features: solid 18K white gold construction, compact 33.4mm proportions, silver minimalist dial, signed 20-jewel movement, lever escapement, stem setting, and its original Vacheron & Constantin presentation box.

For collectors of Vacheron Constantin, vintage Swiss pocket watches, 18K white gold watches, or mid-century horology, it is an especially elegant example.