Lot Essay
Wristwatches with rare handcrafted cloisonné enamel dials, always made in very small editions, are iconic and highly collectable horological works of art.
This incredibly beautiful reference 5177 in white gold was made in a small production but the rarity behind this timepiece is its stunning enamel dial, combining the techniques of Grand Feu cloisonné, flinqué and miniature painting, it is decorated with translucent and opaque enamels to convey the tonal beauty of the Caribbean Sea, the artist created the outlines by arranging thin gold wires on an engraved gold dial plate. The partitions, called "cloisons” in French, were filled with small quantities of enamel powder in the desired color. The dial was then fired in a furnace at around 1000 degrees Celsius causing the powder to melt. Finally, it is hand-polished until a perfectly flat glass-like surface is obtained. The creation of each dial requires up to 7 firings, using 7 to 10 different enamel colors. It would take one of Patek Philippe’s master enamellists approximately 7 days of work to create such individual works of art.
This incredibly beautiful reference 5177 in white gold was made in a small production but the rarity behind this timepiece is its stunning enamel dial, combining the techniques of Grand Feu cloisonné, flinqué and miniature painting, it is decorated with translucent and opaque enamels to convey the tonal beauty of the Caribbean Sea, the artist created the outlines by arranging thin gold wires on an engraved gold dial plate. The partitions, called "cloisons” in French, were filled with small quantities of enamel powder in the desired color. The dial was then fired in a furnace at around 1000 degrees Celsius causing the powder to melt. Finally, it is hand-polished until a perfectly flat glass-like surface is obtained. The creation of each dial requires up to 7 firings, using 7 to 10 different enamel colors. It would take one of Patek Philippe’s master enamellists approximately 7 days of work to create such individual works of art.