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拍品专文
An example of the finest craftsmanship in enamel and a great horological work of art, this spectacular Neptune cloisonné dial was first discovered in 2012 in the family of the original owner.
Naturally, the most remarkable feature of this ‘Seamaster Neptune’ is the cloisonné enamel dial. The ‘Neptune’ cloisonné dial is one of the most coveted Omega watches ever made and this spectacular watch can be therefore be considered the ultimate trophy among all known examples.
Research has resulted in the discovery that an exceedingly small series of possibly only five dials decorated with the ‘Neptune’ design were supplied to Omega by the renowned Fabrique de Cadrans Stern Frères of Geneva. The dials were made using a solid gold plate decorated by the legendary enamellist Mlle Nelly Richard, one of the finest artists working in enamel in the 20th century.
The reverse of the present dial is bearing the hand-scratched numbers 89 and 576: the first, 89, is Stern's internal client code for Omega. The second, 576, indicates that the order was for a 'Neptune' motif, made by the celebrated Nelly Richard who worked for Stern Frères from the late 1940s until the 1950s. The talented Mrs. Richard executed the majority of the cloisonné enamel dials featuring Neptune, dragons and maps commissioned by Omega, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and others.
Between 1946 and 1956, the company produced an extremely small series of wristwatches fitted with such cloisonné enamel dials, the total output representing only an infinitely small fraction of the regular production numbers.
The production of solid gold cloisonné-decorated enamel 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 'cloisons' in French, were filled with small quantities of enamel powder in the desired colour. The dial was then fired in a furnace at around 1000 degrees Celsius causing the powder to melt into glass. Finally it was hand-polished until obtaining a perfectly flat surface. Entirely hand-made by celebrated enamel artists, notably Nelly Richard, these dials must be regarded as unique works of art in their own right. The talented Mrs. Richard executed the majority of the cloisonné enamel dials featuring Neptune, dragons and maps commissioned by Omega, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and others from the late 1940s until the mid-1950s. From research, it appears that the 'Neptune' dial was one of the most expensive designs compared to others made at the same period, Mlle Richard was paid in the region of 86 Francs each for them and Omega was in turn charged around 155 Francs by Stern Frères.
Neptune, God of the Seas
One of the most important deities in Roman mythology, Neptune (called Poseidon by the Greeks) was the supreme ruler of the seas. A powerful god, he used his mighty trident not only to provoke earthquakes and stir ocean waves but also to raise new land from beneath the sea or cause existing land to sink below the waters. Neptune was often helpful to humans, protecting sailors at sea, guiding ships to safety, and filling nets with fish. He rode the waves in a chariot drawn by dolphins or sea horses but his most honoured creation was the horse - according to tradition, he was the one who breathed life into the first horse on earth.
Naturally, the most remarkable feature of this ‘Seamaster Neptune’ is the cloisonné enamel dial. The ‘Neptune’ cloisonné dial is one of the most coveted Omega watches ever made and this spectacular watch can be therefore be considered the ultimate trophy among all known examples.
Research has resulted in the discovery that an exceedingly small series of possibly only five dials decorated with the ‘Neptune’ design were supplied to Omega by the renowned Fabrique de Cadrans Stern Frères of Geneva. The dials were made using a solid gold plate decorated by the legendary enamellist Mlle Nelly Richard, one of the finest artists working in enamel in the 20th century.
The reverse of the present dial is bearing the hand-scratched numbers 89 and 576: the first, 89, is Stern's internal client code for Omega. The second, 576, indicates that the order was for a 'Neptune' motif, made by the celebrated Nelly Richard who worked for Stern Frères from the late 1940s until the 1950s. The talented Mrs. Richard executed the majority of the cloisonné enamel dials featuring Neptune, dragons and maps commissioned by Omega, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and others.
Between 1946 and 1956, the company produced an extremely small series of wristwatches fitted with such cloisonné enamel dials, the total output representing only an infinitely small fraction of the regular production numbers.
The production of solid gold cloisonné-decorated enamel 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 'cloisons' in French, were filled with small quantities of enamel powder in the desired colour. The dial was then fired in a furnace at around 1000 degrees Celsius causing the powder to melt into glass. Finally it was hand-polished until obtaining a perfectly flat surface. Entirely hand-made by celebrated enamel artists, notably Nelly Richard, these dials must be regarded as unique works of art in their own right. The talented Mrs. Richard executed the majority of the cloisonné enamel dials featuring Neptune, dragons and maps commissioned by Omega, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and others from the late 1940s until the mid-1950s. From research, it appears that the 'Neptune' dial was one of the most expensive designs compared to others made at the same period, Mlle Richard was paid in the region of 86 Francs each for them and Omega was in turn charged around 155 Francs by Stern Frères.
Neptune, God of the Seas
One of the most important deities in Roman mythology, Neptune (called Poseidon by the Greeks) was the supreme ruler of the seas. A powerful god, he used his mighty trident not only to provoke earthquakes and stir ocean waves but also to raise new land from beneath the sea or cause existing land to sink below the waters. Neptune was often helpful to humans, protecting sailors at sea, guiding ships to safety, and filling nets with fish. He rode the waves in a chariot drawn by dolphins or sea horses but his most honoured creation was the horse - according to tradition, he was the one who breathed life into the first horse on earth.