Live Auction 1992Important Watches
ROLEX. A RARE 10K AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH CENTER SECONDS
Lot 51

ROLEX. A RARE 10K AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH CENTER SECONDS

SIGNED ROLEX, PERPETUAL, MOVEMENT NO. F13673, CASE NO. 717621, REF. 6085, CIRCA 1950

Closed24 April 2008

Price Realised

USD 20,000

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ROLEX. A RARE 10K AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH CENTER SECONDS
SIGNED ROLEX, PERPETUAL, MOVEMENT NO. F13673, CASE NO. 717621, REF. 6085, CIRCA 1950
With nickel-finished lever movement, polychrome cloisonné enamel dial depicting a cowboy riding a bucking bronco on a transluscent yellow enamel background, with applied disk and triangular numerals, circular water-resistant-type case with reeded bezel with engraved baton five-minute divisions, case, dial and movement signed, with a gold-plated Rolex buckle
35mm diam.

Specialist note

The labor and artistry that went into the production of cloisonné enamel dials was quite an expensive process as each one was crafted individually. The intricacy of the design began with the positioning of thin gold wires on the dial by the artist, which in turn depicted the chosen motif. The creation of small divisions by these wires, called "cloisonné", were then filled with colored enamel powder and fired in an oven at 1000 degrees Celius eventually enabling the powder to melt. Once the dial was removed from the oven it was polished by hand until a completely flat surface was achieved.

Given both the rarity and high level of skill involved in the formation of cloisonné enamel dials they have become a highly desirable commodity among collectors today.