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Lot Essay
According to the archives of Vacheron Constantin, the present watch was manufactured in 1950 with cloisonné enamel dial depicting seahorses.
In the late 1940s/early 1950s, the use of cloisonné enamel dials on wristwatches became very popular. Given the cost of such a dial these were often made upon special order, the motif chosen by the client. Consequently, only a limited number of these watches exists.
The rarity of the present watch is further enhanced by the unusual and attractive dial, representing a pair of dancing seahorses.
These dials were mainly made by Carlo or Charles Poluzzi (1899-1978) one of Geneva's most renowned enamellers. Poluzzi specialized in the production of dials decorated with cloisonné enamel scenes which he supplied to important watch manufacturers such as Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, Rolex and Omega.
The production of these 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 "cloisonné" in French, were filled with small quantities of enamel powder in the desired colour. The dial was then fired in an oven at around 1000 degrees Celsius causing the powder to melt. Finally it was hand-polished until a perfectly flat surface was obtained.
Cloisonné enamel dial watches were and still are considered the most unusual and attractive watches ever made and thus highly looked after by collectors.
In the late 1940s/early 1950s, the use of cloisonné enamel dials on wristwatches became very popular. Given the cost of such a dial these were often made upon special order, the motif chosen by the client. Consequently, only a limited number of these watches exists.
The rarity of the present watch is further enhanced by the unusual and attractive dial, representing a pair of dancing seahorses.
These dials were mainly made by Carlo or Charles Poluzzi (1899-1978) one of Geneva's most renowned enamellers. Poluzzi specialized in the production of dials decorated with cloisonné enamel scenes which he supplied to important watch manufacturers such as Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, Rolex and Omega.
The production of these 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 "cloisonné" in French, were filled with small quantities of enamel powder in the desired colour. The dial was then fired in an oven at around 1000 degrees Celsius causing the powder to melt. Finally it was hand-polished until a perfectly flat surface was obtained.
Cloisonné enamel dial watches were and still are considered the most unusual and attractive watches ever made and thus highly looked after by collectors.