====== Vacheron Constantin Mercator ======
{{wst>image_cr|Vacheron Constantin|Mercator}}

{{wst>image_cr|Vacheron Constantin|Mercator America}}

**Mercator** is a wristwatch by [[Vacheron Constantin]].

[[1994]] at the 400th death anniversary of the mathematician, philosopher, geographer and cartographer Gerhard Kremer (1512-1594), better known today under the name [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerardus_Mercator|Mercator]], a jubilee watch was launched that looked different from all the previously known [[wristwatch]]es. The [[enamel]]ed dial showed a former map by Mercator with Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, above which moved two hands in the form of a card circle that indicated the current time via [[retrograde]] hours or minutes.

The special edition **Mercator America** with [[platinum]] case, which reproduced a map image of America, was produced in an edition of only 12 pieces.

The production of these watches requires an unusually big effort. So during the production of the [[enamel]] dial the colors are introduced individually, pigment by pigment, with an extremely fine brush consisting of two sable hairs, into punctate depressions that have been created in a plate made of 22ct gold. The enamelling process then requires 35 heatings to 700-800°C in an oven and other post-processing steps. Overall, the production of such a map display takes twelve whole days.

The watches are now a sought-after commercial object at auctions. Its price amounted at the beginning to approximately $47,500 USD and in the meantime reaches up to $60,000.


<WRAP ud ud_mod>

**Reference:**
  * 43050

**Movement:**
  * [[Self-winding]] movement [[VC 1120 M]] (base JLC 920), 19,800 A/h
  * Rotor in 21ct gold
  * [[Geneva Seal]]
  * Power reserve 40 h

**Case:**
  * 18ct [[yellow gold]] / [[platinum]] (Mercator America)
  * D 36 mm, H 8 mm
  * [[Sapphire crystal]] with [[anti-glare treatment]]
  * [[Sapphire crystal]] caseback
  * [[Waterproof]] to 30 m

**Dial:**
  * [[Enamel]]ed, with hand-drawn representation of a map by Mercator
  * Compass-shaped hands

**Functions:**
  * [[Retrograde]] hours and minutes

**Bracelet:**
  * Hand-sewn alligator leather strap with [[folding clasp]] in [[yellow gold]] (platinum model [[white gold]])
</WRAP>
===== Literature =====
  * [[Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch]]; Author [[Gerd-Lothar Reschke]]; ISBN 3-938607-61-0


{{tag>Watch_models Vacheron_Constantin_models}}