Specially made for Edwards and Le Bron of Chattanooga, one of the South's premier jewelers at the time, it bears the prestigious name on the dial, movement, and case. The extremely high-grade movement with eight adjustments is also signed Vacheron & Constantin.
An interesting article about Edwards and Le Bron can be found . And an old photo of their building can be found .
It is fully original down to the hands and bow. Its original 14K case is in excellent condition. Its porcelain dial is 99.9% perfect with a tiny nick to the edge of the seconds register visible under magnification.
Our watchmaker has just freshly cleaned and oiled the high-grade movement. It is running strong and true.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.
Note: An old ad in the Chattanooga city directory advertising section showed that in addition to other offerings Edwards & Le Bron also offered "Your eyes tested free by our expert opticians." Mixing optometry and watchmaking/jewelry was not always unusual...one of our two watchmakers - the watchmaker who serviced this watch - is both a lifelong watchmaker and a Doctor of Optometry.
Vacheron & Constantin:
As the world's oldest watchmaker, Vacheron & Constantin in certain sets the bar for what constitutes a world-class timepiece. Prized by royalty, heads of state, and prominent public figures, their timepieces rank in the top teir of the most exclusive and expensive in the world.
Since the early 1800's, the elite Swiss firm Vacheron & Constantin has had as it's motto "Do better if possible... and that's always possible."
In contrast to modern Vacheron & Constantin watches that can be purchased at various jewelry boutiques around the world, their vintage pieces are fairly scare. Vacheron & Constantin's attention to detail and strict quality standards limited their production capacity in the 1930's to only twenty to thirty timepieces per day.
- Manufacturer: Vacheron & Constantin
- Country of origin: Switzerland
- Serial no.: 364,817
- Year built: c. 1915
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds
- Designed for: Men
- Case style: Open face
- Setting type: Stem set
- Case material: 14K Gold
- Case markings (outside): Ornately personalized 'DS'
- Case condition: Excellent with light wear and a light of small light indentions. The cuvette is not spring loaded.
- Bow condition: Excellent
- Dial: White enamel with dauphine numerals, outer minute track, sunken subsidiary seconds, mint condition
- Hands: Blue steel, original, Breguet 'moons'
- Movement type: Extremely high grade keyless pocket chronometer, signed Vacheron & Constantin, rhodium plated, wolf's tooth gearing, swan's neck micrometer regulator for precision timing adjustments, made for Edwards & Le Bron
- Movement markings: Vacheron & Constantin, Swiss, 8 Adjustments, 17 Jewels, Edwards & Le Bron, Chattanooga
- Crystal type: Mineral glass, excellent condition
- Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system.
- Serviced: Yes, cleaned and oiled.
- Warranty: 1-year C.O.T. international warranty.
- Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
- Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee