Rolex. An extremely fine and rare 18K gold self-winding wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and cloisonné enamel dial depicting a peacock
Prospective buyers should be aware that the import… 显示更多 VARIOUS PROPERTIES
Rolex. An extremely fine and rare 18K gold self-winding wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and cloisonné enamel dial depicting a peacock

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER, MOVEMENT NO. F67807 AND 56493, CASE NO. 910'768, REF. 6085, CIRCA 1952

细节
Rolex. An extremely fine and rare 18K gold self-winding wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and cloisonné enamel dial depicting a peacock
Signed Rolex, Oyster, movement no. F67807 and 56493, case no. 910'768, ref. 6085, circa 1952
With nickel-finished fully jewelled lever movement, the polychrome cloisonné enamel dial depicting a peacock with outspread fan, applied gold dot and baton numerals, luminous dauphine hands, sweep centre seconds, in tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case with milled bezel, screw back and screw down crown, gilt Rolex buckle, case, dial and movement signed
34 mm. diam.
来源
Important Automata, Pocket and Wrist Watches, Christie's Geneva, 15 November 1989, lot 246.
注意事项
Prospective buyers should be aware that the importation of Rolex watches into the United States is highly restricted. Rolex watches may not be shipped into the USA and can only be imported personally. Generally a buyer may import only one watch into the USA. For further information please contact our specialists in charge of the sale. Please note other countries may have comparable import restrictions for luxury watches.

拍品专文

In the 1950s, the design of Rolex watches arrived at its peak, notably with the production of cloisonné enamel dial wristwatches in conjunction with the renowned Charles Poluzzi.

Rolex reserved the enamel dials for only very few models. The best known reference numbers with either monochrome enamel or cloisonné enamel scenes are 6084, 6085, 6284 and 6285. The most popular motifs were the dragon, the viking boat, maps and the peacock as probably the rarest version.

The Peacock
In many cultures, the symbol of the peacock is considered auspicious and protective. The peacock is associated with the Middle Eastern deity Tammuz; in Greece it was sacred to Hera, queen of heaven and lawful wife of Zeus - a pair of them drew her chariot.

In the old Chinese bureaucratic system, members of the third highest level displayed a peacock as the insignia of rank. These badges were in the form of large embroidered squares applied to the front of an official's formal gown. A similar system for indicating status was used in the Byzantine Empire.

Peacocks are considered sacred in India, especially in the north where its feathers may be burnt to ward off disease, and even to cure snakebite.

In the iconography of European alchemy and hermeneutics, the peacock represents the soul. In Christianity, it stands for immortality and the incorruptibility of the soul. It is also an obvious solar symbol because of the resemblance between the rays of the sun and the circular fan of the tail in full display.

Carlo or Charles Poluzzi (1899-1978) was 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 Rolex, Omega, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe.

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 obtaining of a perfectly flat surface.

Consequently, Rolex cloisonné enamel dial watches were and still are considered the most unusual and attractive watches the company ever made and are thus highly looked after by collectors.

The present example, not offered publicly since 1989, is doubtlessly one of the most desirable cloisonné enamel wristwatches by Rolex.