Vacheron Constantin "Corne de Vache" guilloche dial, in 18k Red Gold

The Vacheron Constantin Ref. 4361 "Corne de Vache" is a watch that belongs to a very specific and irreproducible moment in Genevan watchmaking: the 1940s, when the great manufactures entrusted their most ambitious case designs to independent specialist casemakers, resulting in pieces of a sculptural boldness that no in-house production line could have achieved. This example, in 18k red gold, carries the hallmark of Eggly & Cie (Geneva Key #23) on the inside of the case, one of the most respected casemakers of the era, responsible for some of Vacheron Constantin's most complex and distinctive designs of the period.

Key Specifications

Reference	4361
Nickname	"Corne de Vache" (Cow's Horn lugs)
Case	18k red gold, 36 mm, bold curvilinear "Corne de Vache" lugs
Casemaker Hallmark	Eggly & Cie, Geneva Key #23
Dial	Cream, guilloché centre disc, smooth outer ring, small seconds at 6 o'clock
Movement	Manual wind, Caliber 453/3B
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds
Strap	Leather

Collector's Note

The red gold alloy used for this case is notably more saturated in colour than standard rose gold, giving the sculptural lines of the "Corne de Vache" lugs a warmth and depth that is immediately visible. The nickname refers to the shape of the lugs themselves: long, curved, and tapering outward like a pair of horns, a design that was fashionable among Geneva's most ambitious watchmakers in the 1940s and has never been revived in modern production.

The guilloché dial is an exercise in refined contrast: the engine-turned central disc catches light in a constantly shifting pattern, while the smooth outer ring and the minute track provide the visual calm necessary for legibility. The Caliber 453/3B is a manually wound movement of the period, finished to the standards that Vacheron Constantin applied to all its movements regardless of the case configuration. The combination of red gold, Eggly casemaker hallmark, and guilloché dial makes this a benchmark example for any serious collection of vintage Vacheron Constantin.

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