CASE NO. 126'003, CIRCA 1950

Extremely rare and produced in very small numbers, Eska cloisonné enamel watches have become highly sought-after novelties among discerning collectors. This particular timepiece stands out for its amazing dial, which features a map of the Americas on a deep black background that highlights the colorful cloisonné partitions. A beautifully rendered compass rose at four o'clock completes the rich polychromatic composition created by rendering each country in a different enamel color. The dial is finished with Arabic, baton, and lozenge-shaped numerals that enhance its legibility and visual appeal. The watch has both presence and technical substance thanks to its elegant downturned lugs and 18K pink gold case, which is powered by a bumper automatic movement.

Enamelling is among the most complex decorative arts in watchmaking, and the present timepiece represents a particularly fine example of the cloisonné technique. Delicate gold wires are used to first divide the dial into compartments known as cloisons. Before being fired at high temperatures to allow the enamel to fuse and settle, each compartment is filled with enamel powder of carefully chosen colors. To get the required depth and finish, this procedure must be repeated several times, and each firing carries the risk of cracking because of thermal stress.

Additionally, the enamel's colors change as it is fired, so the master enameller must be extremely accurate in predicting the outcome. Because of this, polychrome cloisonné enamelling is still a very difficult and expensive process that only a few skilled craftspeople can perform. The rarity of these dials, combined with their striking aesthetic, places watches such as the present example among the most desirable and visually captivating vintage timepieces available to collectors today.