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Lot Essay
With copies of the Swiss, US and UK Patent and drawings for Verger's "Opening Case for Watches or like Articles".
According to the Archives of Vacheron Constantin, the present shutter watch with case by Verger Frères was manufactured in 1934.
The name "Verger Frères", a synonym for watches, clocks and jewellery of unparalleled creativity and design, inevitably evokes the ever popular Art Deco period. The celebrated house was founded in Paris in 1872 by the talented jeweler and watchmaker Ferdinand Verger (1851-1928). His sons Georges and Henri, as gifted as their father, joined the firm which, in 1911, was renamed Verger Frères, introducing the famous trademark "VF" in a lozenge-shaped stamp, the acknowledged mark for the most esteemed Art Deco pieces. In the years to follow, the manufacture reached its peak, excelling in the production of the most creative designs of the period. Verger Frères creations are distinguished by their innovative use of precious materials and the outstanding workmanship of their watches, clocks, stands, jewellery and frames. Although often associated with Vacheron & Constantin, Verger also worked with all of the great houses of the time, among them Van Cleef & Arpels, Janesich, Lacloche, Ostertag, Jaeger and Boucheron in Europe, and Tiffany, Black, Starr & Frost, Spalding & Co. and J. E. Caldwell in the United States, just to name some.
Verger's partnership with Vacheron & Constantin started as early as 1879 when Ferdinand became the agent of the Genevan firm in Paris. The combination of the watch manufacturer's technical know-how and Verger's outstanding creativity and skilfulness resulted in the creation of extraordinary watches and clocks, such as the present purse watch, standing out by its superb design and quality. The engraving is of highest workmanship, the geometric pattern typical of the Art Deco period. The shutter system, patented by Verger in 1928, allows the two covers to close so perfectly that the two case sides show hardly any difference, neither visible nor tangible. The appeal of this fine timepiece is further enhanced by the highly attractive two-tone silvered dial featuring the much sought after Breguet numerals and its excellent overall condition.
The firm's creative spirit is underlined by the number of patents obtained for their innovations, notably Georges Verger's pioneering system consisted of a "case of the type used for carrying watches which is also suitable for containing cigarettes or any article or object with the particular feature of a system of shutters suitably connected to spring push pieces forming movable ends of the case, in such wise that by seizing the said case by the edge and drawing the fingers together the degree of opening of the shutter is determined which allows the object which the case contains to be send and removed if desired, the shutter or shutters returning to their position automatically under the action of springs when the pressure on the push pieces ceases". Verger's invention was granted French Patent No. 656.483 for an "Opening Case for Watches or like Articles", requested on 26 June 1928, granted on 2 January 1929 and published on 8 May of the same year. Swiss Patent No. 302'340 was granted on 18 June 1928, American Patent No. 1'816'101 on 27 August 1928 and United Kingdom Patent No. 313.868 on 26 September 1929.
This creative system subsequently became a famous feature for purse watches signed by the greatest watchmakers and jewellery of the time.
According to the Archives of Vacheron Constantin, the present shutter watch with case by Verger Frères was manufactured in 1934.
The name "Verger Frères", a synonym for watches, clocks and jewellery of unparalleled creativity and design, inevitably evokes the ever popular Art Deco period. The celebrated house was founded in Paris in 1872 by the talented jeweler and watchmaker Ferdinand Verger (1851-1928). His sons Georges and Henri, as gifted as their father, joined the firm which, in 1911, was renamed Verger Frères, introducing the famous trademark "VF" in a lozenge-shaped stamp, the acknowledged mark for the most esteemed Art Deco pieces. In the years to follow, the manufacture reached its peak, excelling in the production of the most creative designs of the period. Verger Frères creations are distinguished by their innovative use of precious materials and the outstanding workmanship of their watches, clocks, stands, jewellery and frames. Although often associated with Vacheron & Constantin, Verger also worked with all of the great houses of the time, among them Van Cleef & Arpels, Janesich, Lacloche, Ostertag, Jaeger and Boucheron in Europe, and Tiffany, Black, Starr & Frost, Spalding & Co. and J. E. Caldwell in the United States, just to name some.
Verger's partnership with Vacheron & Constantin started as early as 1879 when Ferdinand became the agent of the Genevan firm in Paris. The combination of the watch manufacturer's technical know-how and Verger's outstanding creativity and skilfulness resulted in the creation of extraordinary watches and clocks, such as the present purse watch, standing out by its superb design and quality. The engraving is of highest workmanship, the geometric pattern typical of the Art Deco period. The shutter system, patented by Verger in 1928, allows the two covers to close so perfectly that the two case sides show hardly any difference, neither visible nor tangible. The appeal of this fine timepiece is further enhanced by the highly attractive two-tone silvered dial featuring the much sought after Breguet numerals and its excellent overall condition.
The firm's creative spirit is underlined by the number of patents obtained for their innovations, notably Georges Verger's pioneering system consisted of a "case of the type used for carrying watches which is also suitable for containing cigarettes or any article or object with the particular feature of a system of shutters suitably connected to spring push pieces forming movable ends of the case, in such wise that by seizing the said case by the edge and drawing the fingers together the degree of opening of the shutter is determined which allows the object which the case contains to be send and removed if desired, the shutter or shutters returning to their position automatically under the action of springs when the pressure on the push pieces ceases". Verger's invention was granted French Patent No. 656.483 for an "Opening Case for Watches or like Articles", requested on 26 June 1928, granted on 2 January 1929 and published on 8 May of the same year. Swiss Patent No. 302'340 was granted on 18 June 1928, American Patent No. 1'816'101 on 27 August 1928 and United Kingdom Patent No. 313.868 on 26 September 1929.
This creative system subsequently became a famous feature for purse watches signed by the greatest watchmakers and jewellery of the time.