1950s Vacheron Constantin Reference 4709 'Helm'

Why This Watch Matters

This watch highlights Vacheron Constantin’s design imagination and mastery of case manufacturing. It's a piece we guarantee you won’t see twice.

The Full Story

The 1950s were booming years for Vacheron, as the manufacture was determined to offer a new take on dress watches. There was no limit on elaborate lugs and unusual case shapes; the culmination of this approach was the reference 4709, one of the stars of the thematic “The Art of Vacheron Constantin” sale in 1994. Aptly nicknamed the 'Helm' after its resemblance to a ship's helm, the example here offers a slightly less-formal center seconds hand (as opposed to a subsidiary seconds dial), indicating that it was produced in the later batches of the 4709. It also displays an elegant guilloché dial, proving that the attention to detail extended beyond the “Helm” case in the creation of this watch. This may be the ultimate dress watch.

The Fine Print

Maker: Vacheron Constantin
Reference: 4709
Year: Mid 1950s
Case No: 3236XX
Material: Yellow gold
Dimensions: 34mm diameter; 9mm thickness
Sapphire Crystal: No
Lume: No
Caliber: Manual-winding movement 466/38
Bracelet/Strap: Black alligator Strap with unmarked buckle
Lug Width: 16mm
Box/Papers: No

What we Love and What You Should Know

The uniquely shaped yellow-gold bezel remains crisp, as do the ribbon lugs. The case back has a couple of superficial scratches, and the crown is unsigned. With a loupe, you can see one minor discoloration on the dial above the 6 o’clock index. Besides this small imperfection, the guilloché dial is splendid. This is an extremely stunning and rare piece.