Rolex • Whale and Frigate
This dial was created for a Rolex collector, paying homage to the extremely rare Rolex watch (Reference 5029/5028) with Cloisonné dial created in 1949. It is considered one of the most significant Rolex watches with an enamel dial ever produced.
Grand Feu Cloisonné enamel on gold plate, featuring gold indexes. Mirror polishing. Multiple firings at temperatures around 800°C. Transparent, opaque and opalescent enamels in multiple colours with a 0.07 mm gold wire for partitions.
The dial was fitted into the extremely rare vintage Rolex Datejust Ref. 6305, Cirka1953. The process involved complex engineering to make sure that the new enamel dial perfectly attached to the movement and flawlessly fits into the case.
All dial components and finishings are crafted in house. Casting and machining 18k gold plate, rolling 0.07 mm Cloisonné wire, creation of gold indexes and polishing.
Polishing was extremely complicated and arduous. On the one hand, you have to create a perfect flat mirror surface and eliminate all imperfections, and on the other, you have to be very careful not to damage the enamel composition. One misstep and the dial must be rejected. Original dial was not polished.
As per the customers request, the style of the indexes maintained a vintage look. To attach the indexes to a polished enamel surface, 16 holes needed to be carefully drilled. This is an extremely risky operation as one wrong move will destroy weeks of intricate work.
