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Lot Essay
Purchased by the present owner at Gübelin in Zurich in 1993 this reference 5040 is fresh to the market. It is furthermore preserved in very good overall condition.
Reference 5040
Reference 5040 was in production from 1992 until around 2007. It was available in all gold colours as well as in platinum and is distinguished by its tonneau tortue case, a style typical of the 1920s and 1930s, but much less common in modern times. Tonneau indicates a "barrel" shape (indeed tonneau means barrel in French) with narrow ends and wide center. Tortue (turtle, in French) describes a case with short lugs and rounded corners, resembling the legs of a turtle protruding from the shell. As this term defines a case detail, rather than a case shape, It is normally used in conjunction of the case shape, one can have tonneau tortue, like the present watch, or also carre tortue, cushion tortue, etc.
Reference 5040
Reference 5040 was in production from 1992 until around 2007. It was available in all gold colours as well as in platinum and is distinguished by its tonneau tortue case, a style typical of the 1920s and 1930s, but much less common in modern times. Tonneau indicates a "barrel" shape (indeed tonneau means barrel in French) with narrow ends and wide center. Tortue (turtle, in French) describes a case with short lugs and rounded corners, resembling the legs of a turtle protruding from the shell. As this term defines a case detail, rather than a case shape, It is normally used in conjunction of the case shape, one can have tonneau tortue, like the present watch, or also carre tortue, cushion tortue, etc.