Cartier

Earlier in my epic 13-part post on the Cartier manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds I took a look at the enamelling department of the manufacture ( click here to see the post). This post will provide a more detailed look - with 42 never seen before photos - a...  

staff are true artists. The patience and techniques only heighten the art IMO. Great and engaging article. Best to all, Tim

There is also high jewellery and even marquetry, the art of using tiny bits of wood veneer to create a motif. But that is for another article in the future. The Cartier d'Art series of watches includes watches with both enamel and marquetry dials. - SJX

amazing photo reporting and I can totally appreciate the handiwork that goes into each piece.. wow...time consuming it is..I once visited a cloisonné factory in China but they were not working on microscopic levels...

though I recall it originated elsewhere much earlier. At its peak, during the Ming dynasty until maybe the 18th century, the cloisonne wares made for the Chinese Imperial Court were quite amazing, just like the porcelain and ceramics. I have seen some of ... 

The first true cloisonne pieces are from the mid Byzantine empire I believe, derived from central European "migration period" champleve work mimicking semi-precious stone inlay work. There are some pieces from the Staffordshire Horde that are fantastic ex... 

and I recall seeing some objects in the various museums. I remember the early ones are a bit crude though and not as well formed as the Chinese Ming dynasty ones. - SJX

And the look of the contemporary art is very different. The Byzantine pieces that I've seen, though few, don't seem to have the obsessive perfection that I associate with later Chinese pieces, but do share a look with Icons of the same period.... A

the early work is like early FP Journe while the later pieces are like modern Lange. - SJX

Thank you.... Cheers

Certainly one of the best I've read about enamel, which is a fantastic mix between art and technique. Emmanuel

Very interesting read! GEO

Always a pleasure.

another amazing post ... personally i've always said that a watch with an enmal dial is a MUST for any collector ... and in my personal list for watches to collect i have that written down as well . Enmal is a true art , each and every creation is an artw... 

On the surface enamel work can look largely similar but as the saying goes God is in the details. Flat white Grand Feu enamel dials can vary tremendously in quality, just examine them under a loupe and look for the size of imperfections (no enamel dial ca... 

It appears that Cartier only does cloisonne and champleve enamelling. I could be wrong. Personally, I prefer enamel miniature painting like the one performed by Anita Porchet. Thanks for the in-dept look, SJX. Regards Ling

but I can't remember if it is done at this same atelier or elsewhere. I will find out. - SJX

i just wish that some of the timepieces on which these works of art are put on were a bit smaller! Roni