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Vacheron Constantin 7931 Automatic - 18K Yellow Gold Basket Weave Dial

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Details
Gold Made To Behave Like Cloth
Vacheron Constantin spent the 1970s producing gold dress watches with an intensity that is easy to overlook now that the decade is remembered mostly for steel. This reference is one of the strongest arguments for looking again. The basket weave is not a stamped pattern but a built structure, many small gold elements assembled so the bracelet moves and drapes like woven fabric while remaining solid metal. It is the sort of work the oldest continuously operating watch manufacturer could take on because it had already been doing it for two centuries.
One Idea, Carried All The Way Through
What makes this example hold together is that nothing breaks the theme. The weave runs through the bracelet, into the case, and straight across the champagne dial, which carries the identical texture at a smaller scale. There is no point where the watch stops and the jewelry starts. Turn it under a light and the entire surface animates at once, dial and bracelet together, which is the effect the design was built to produce and the reason it still looks like nothing else.
Perfect Dial, Extended Bracelet
Overall this watch is in very good condition. The 18k yellow gold case is unpolished and shows light wear consistent with its age. The champagne weave dial is perfect. The bracelet is excellent in function and structure, with some heat discoloration visible in places, and its length was increased at some point through an addition of gold links topped with hand carving that follows the original weave closely enough to read as part of it. As with every watch we offer, this piece has been verified as mechanically sound and is ready to wear.
Bought For The Bracelet
Some collectors buy movements and some buy dials. This one is for the collector who turns a watch over and studies how the bracelet was made. It is a Vacheron Constantin from the period when the house was building integrated gold at the outer limit of what could be done by hand, in a size that reads classic rather than small. There is no modern equivalent, because nobody is putting this many hours into a bracelet anymore.
Key Specs
Reference: 7931
Model: Automatic Integrated Basket Weave
Year: 1970s
Movement: Automatic
Case Size: 31mm
Bezel: 18k Yellow Gold
Bracelet: 18k Yellow Gold Integrated Basket-Weave
Bracelet Length: 7-7.25in
Dial: Champagne Weave
Metal: 18k Yellow Gold
SKU: 1493

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Dan Young
4 months ago

I knew I was gonna like Danny, based on his name, but nothing could’ve prepared me for how great of an experience this was. He had the most beautiful 70s Seamaster Cosmic on his website and I was set to be married 2 days later - I arranged to buy it but before leaving we both realized it needed to be serviced. I panicked, because I was literally buying this for my wedding, and Danny being the legend he is, loaned me a nearly identical Seamaster to make sure I could get through the event Never have I had someone go so above and beyond for me, especially while purchasing one of the lesser priced items in their inventory. He serviced my watch and exchanged it with me after the wedding on a super fast turnaround timeline. I would sincerely recommend you visit this guy, you will not be disappointed Edit: adding a pic of the loaner (two tone) and the owner (crosshair)

Patrick Farella
5 months ago

Great service and shop. Danny and his team were incredibly accommodating, professional, and kind. Great selection of vintage watches. Their store is the hidden gem in the diamond district.

Zee06
2 months ago

This was my first real luxury watch purchase, a Rolex 15200 Date 34mm, I own Tissots and a Laco, but those are entry level luxury watches. I found Danny’s Vintage Watches online, and had great feedback both on Google, Chrono24 and the Reddit watch community. So decided to give him a shot as buying online can be a crap shoot. Ordered Monday night, was at my doorstep Friday morning. Despite the watch being over 30 years old, serial number says it’s from 91, the watch looked new. Didn’t come with box or papers, and was shipped in a plastic sleeve wrapped in bubble wrap. Danny was always available to answer questions. I’ll be buying from Danny again for the next purchase…saw a couple of Speedmasters on his site I liked….

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4 months ago

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