Lot Essay
Extremely rare and produced in very small numbers, Eska cloisonné enamel watches have become novelty timepieces for the astute and determined collector. These watches have risen to fame much in part due to their dial manufacturer: Stern Frères.
Stern Frères employed the best micro-artisans the world has ever seen including renowned artists such as Marguerite Koch and Nelly Richard. Executed with extreme clarity and attention to detail, these enamel dials were scarcely produced due to their painstakingly intricate nature, high failure rate, and the long process time. The back of the dial is signed 64★516, NO. 1. The 64 denotes Eska, the star for Stern Frères, and 516 and no. 1 for the order number.
Amazingly, this dial is confirmed in the Stern Frères archives book with Marguerite Koch being paid 97 Swiss Francs to create and dial which was then sold to Eska for 183 Swiss Francs. Furthermore, there is a copy of the drawing that the enamel artisans used for reference when creating the dials.
The present 'Cirque' dial depicts a young girl dancing on a white horse with vibrant and stunning balls and sunrays. The backdrop is a fantastic golden ombre color which further enhances the contrasting cloisonné partitions. Housed in an 18k pink gold case with fancy lugs and a bumper-automatic movement, this watch has serious presence and will make an excellent cornerstone in any watch collection.
We are grateful to Eric and Gabriel Tortella for their assistance and study in researching this watch.
Stern Frères employed the best micro-artisans the world has ever seen including renowned artists such as Marguerite Koch and Nelly Richard. Executed with extreme clarity and attention to detail, these enamel dials were scarcely produced due to their painstakingly intricate nature, high failure rate, and the long process time. The back of the dial is signed 64★516, NO. 1. The 64 denotes Eska, the star for Stern Frères, and 516 and no. 1 for the order number.
Amazingly, this dial is confirmed in the Stern Frères archives book with Marguerite Koch being paid 97 Swiss Francs to create and dial which was then sold to Eska for 183 Swiss Francs. Furthermore, there is a copy of the drawing that the enamel artisans used for reference when creating the dials.
The present 'Cirque' dial depicts a young girl dancing on a white horse with vibrant and stunning balls and sunrays. The backdrop is a fantastic golden ombre color which further enhances the contrasting cloisonné partitions. Housed in an 18k pink gold case with fancy lugs and a bumper-automatic movement, this watch has serious presence and will make an excellent cornerstone in any watch collection.
We are grateful to Eric and Gabriel Tortella for their assistance and study in researching this watch.