41,250 CHF
BREITLING - CLOISONNE ENAMEL DIAL - DIONYSIUS & DOLPHINS Breitling, "Cloisonne Enamel Dial - Dionysius & Dolphins", case No. 608617, Ref. 1216-19. Made in 1952. Very fine and extremely rare, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with cloisonné enamel on gold dial. Two-body, polished, wide inclined and stepped bezel, concave lugs, recessed winding crown, snap-on back. Cloisonne enamel on gold decorated with the ship of Dionysius and two opposing dolphins below, ivory-colored background, applied yellow gold dart indexes and Roman quarter-hour numerals. Yellow gold dauphine hands. Cal. 19, gilt, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating flat balance spring, shock absorber, index regulator. Notes Dial, case and movement signed, the reverse of the dial scratch numbered "No. 67 & 9 167" beneath the counter enamel. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 7 mm. Breitling watches with cloisonné dials are extremely rare and the present watch has a finely executed dial depicting the ship of Dionysius and dolphins. This design seems to have been inspired by the decoration of a famous ancient greek kylix of circa 530 BC, now in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich. The story is that Dionysius was once captured by Etruscan pirates who mistook him for a wealthy prince they could ransom. After the ship set sail Dionysus invoked his divine powers, causing vines to overgrow the ship where the mast and sails had been. He turned the oars into serpents, so terrifying th
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2008-11-09