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Lot Essay
With Vacheron Constantin Certificate no. 2091 dated 21 February 2011 confirming the authenticity of the present chronograph wristwatch. Furthermore delivered with a vintage Vacheron Constantin brown leather presentation box.
Vacheron Constantin interwar single button chronograph wristwatches are amongst the rarest gems within all collecting categories combined due to their extremely small production output at the time, many actually only known through literature and archival images.
According to research, the present watch is believed to be the only example of such a single button chronograph in circular silver case to have appeared in public to date. The black and white archival image of a similar watch see The World of Vacheron Constantin by Carole Lambelet/Lorette Coen, p. 392, pl. 3307.
Consigned by a European private and fresh to the market, its rarity is enhanced by the attractive, original overall condition and the facsimile signature "JBroz" for Josip Broz, better known as Marshal Tito, who established in 1948 the independence of Yugoslavia from the U.S.S.R. Tito was also the first President of Yugoslavia from 1953-1980.
Following family tradition, the present watch was given by Marshal Tito to General Dapcevic following the liberation of Belgrade as a token of esteem.
Peko Dapcevic (25 June 1913 - 13 February 1999) was a Yugoslav and Montenegrin communist who fought in the Spanish Civil War, joined the Partisan uprising in Montenegro, and became commander of the Yugoslav 1st and 4th Army. General Dapcevic led the Partisan army which liberated Belgrade on 20 October 1944. In 1953 he was named Chief of the Yugoslav General Staff.
Vacheron Constantin interwar single button chronograph wristwatches are amongst the rarest gems within all collecting categories combined due to their extremely small production output at the time, many actually only known through literature and archival images.
According to research, the present watch is believed to be the only example of such a single button chronograph in circular silver case to have appeared in public to date. The black and white archival image of a similar watch see The World of Vacheron Constantin by Carole Lambelet/Lorette Coen, p. 392, pl. 3307.
Consigned by a European private and fresh to the market, its rarity is enhanced by the attractive, original overall condition and the facsimile signature "JBroz" for Josip Broz, better known as Marshal Tito, who established in 1948 the independence of Yugoslavia from the U.S.S.R. Tito was also the first President of Yugoslavia from 1953-1980.
Following family tradition, the present watch was given by Marshal Tito to General Dapcevic following the liberation of Belgrade as a token of esteem.
Peko Dapcevic (25 June 1913 - 13 February 1999) was a Yugoslav and Montenegrin communist who fought in the Spanish Civil War, joined the Partisan uprising in Montenegro, and became commander of the Yugoslav 1st and 4th Army. General Dapcevic led the Partisan army which liberated Belgrade on 20 October 1944. In 1953 he was named Chief of the Yugoslav General Staff.