Lot Essay
Cloisonné enamel dials quite naturally take a prominent position in terms of beauty, craftsmanship and rarity. Highly detailed and made by the very best enamel artists of the period, cloisonné enamel dials can be found decorated with all manner of popular subjects such as tropical oasis, sail boats, flowers, portraits and maps. The production of these solid gold dials was extremely costly as they had to be individually made by a skilled craftsman and not on a production line. The artist created the outline of the desired motif by arranging thin gold wires on a dial. These partitions, called ‘cloisons’ in French, were filled with small quantities of enamel powder in the desired colour. The dial was then fired in an oven at around 800-900 degrees Celsius causing the powder to melt. Finally it was hand-polished until a perfectly flat surface was obtained. Hand-made by celebrated enamel artists, these dials can be regarded as unique works of art in their own right.
The present limited edition of 30 pieces, crafted by Ulysse Nardin, pays tribute to the legendary English naval ship, HMS Caesar. Known for its illustrious history and numerous victories, the HMS Caesar sailed proudly from 1793 to 1921. The dial showcases a breathtaking depiction of the majestic-class ship in exquisite cloisonné enamel, a masterpiece requiring over 50 hours and 26 processes to create.
The present limited edition of 30 pieces, crafted by Ulysse Nardin, pays tribute to the legendary English naval ship, HMS Caesar. Known for its illustrious history and numerous victories, the HMS Caesar sailed proudly from 1793 to 1921. The dial showcases a breathtaking depiction of the majestic-class ship in exquisite cloisonné enamel, a masterpiece requiring over 50 hours and 26 processes to create.