The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Co...

Geneva, Apr 03, 2005

LOT 205

?The Smoker? Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 494502, case No. 381516, Ref. 4118/6993, enamel by C. Poluzzi. Made in 1964. Very fine and rare 18K yellow gold and painted on enamel keyless dress watch. Accompanied by Certificate of Authenticity.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

EUR 20,000 - 25,000 / USD 25,000 - 35,000

Sold: CHF 69,000

C. Three-body, "bassine", the back with finely painted on enamel scene taken from Adriaen Brouwer?s ?Smoking Men? c. 1637, polished border, band and bezels. D. Gilt, ?sunburst?, applied gold faceted bâton and vertical Roman hours, subsidiary seconds. Gold "bâton" hands. M. Cal.17??? 439, rhodium plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, stamped with the ?Seal of Geneva?, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 46 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2

Very good

Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

Watches such as the present one, with very finely painted on enamel scenes executed by Geneva?s master enamelers were always unique pieces made in only one example. Carlo (also Charles) Poluzzi (1899-1978) Born in Seveso, Italy, he moved to Geneva with his family as a child. He specialized in painted on enamel portraits and landscapes, in the style of works from earlier periods. In 1914, Poluzzi became an apprentice at the ?Fabrique d?émaux de Genève?, while also pursuing studies at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He obtained his diploma in 1918 and became a ?chef d?atelier? during the next several years. In 1921, Poluzzi became naturalized, settled in Carouge, and set up his own workshop. Little by little, he became one of Geneva?s most respected enamel painters, working for all the important watch firms and painting the portraits of many important and influential people. He did some of his most noteworthy work for Rolex. A naturalist and lover of mushrooms, Poluzzi wrote a book entitled ?Medecine et champignons vénéneux?, in collaboration with Professor Roch. In 1976, he published ?Beaux Champignons?. ?Dictionnaire des horlogers genevois? by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 1998, Antiquorum Editions. Adriaen Brouwer (c. 1605 ? 1638) Was a Flemish genre painter who influenced artists in both Flanders and Holland. Brouwer studied under Frans Hals in Haarlem about 1621. He became well known in Holland, and returned to the South Netherlands in 1631. There he was arrested and imprisoned by the Spaniards as a spy until September 1633, after which time he settled in Antwerp. Most of Brouwer's work is inspired by everyday life. He often depicted peasants smoking, drinking, or brawling in taverns; country surgeons operating on grimacing patients, and so forth. Despite the simplicity of his subject matter, his style is delicate and contrasted, with a clear mastery of tonal values.