Vacheron Constantin Guilloché Sub Second — 1940s

Mid-Century Elegance, Masterfully Engineered

This exceptionally rare Vacheron Constantin dress watch from the 1940s represents the golden age of Swiss craftsmanship. Housed in a beautifully proportioned 35 mm 18k yellow gold case by Ed. Wenger SA, it blends refined geometry with subtle wrist presence.

The untouched cream Guilloché dial and the jumbo stepped teardrop lugs are the stars of the show — richly textured and perfectly balanced with applied pyramid indices and slim gold stick hands. It’s a dial execution seldom seen today, and one that exemplifies Vacheron’s dedication to hand-finished artistry.

Inside beats the charming Caliber 453, a manual-wind movement from one of Vacheron’s most celebrated eras. Together with the elegant sub-seconds register and classic mid-century case architecture, this piece stands as a true gentleman’s watch: understated, sophisticated, and undeniably rare.

- wrist size in our picture is 18cm circumference -

DIAL:

• original never touched cream Guilloché dial in good condition 
• original hands and crown
• a few tiny spots of patina throughout the dial (see close up pictures)

STRAP & BUCKLE:

• black GOLDAMMER KARDINAL Alligator Embossed Leather Watch Strap / 2 mm thick
• gold plated GOLDAMMER buckle

CASE:

• good overall condition, showing some traces of use
• 3- body 18k yellow gold case with snap-on case back from case maker Ed. Wenger SA
• 35 mm (without crown) / 44 mm (lug-to-lug) / 17 mm (between lugs) / 8.5 mm thick
• year: 1940s
  
• total weight: 41 g

MOVEMENT:

• Vacheron Constantin Cal. 453 - manual wound
• 17 jewels, 18000 A/h, 46 hours power reserve
  
• professionally serviced 11/2025
• +7 sec/d / 340°

BOX & PAPERS:

• GOLDAMMER certificate of authenticity & service documentation card
• GOLDAMMER box

GOLDAMMER REFERENCE: #1297