GLau[Patek Moderator]
12113
Hi All, Further to my 2017 July and follow-up posts on “The Dream” Henri Rousseau enamel series, various fortunate owners, PuristS seeking this 5089s and other PuristS have asked...
Jan 26, 2018,08:52 AM
http://www.watchprosite.com/page-wf.forumpost/fi-11/ti-1139431/dv-true/wf.responses.open_bLoB_s-0/
http://www.watchprosite.com/page-wf.forumpost/fi-11/pi-9105131/ti-1159226/s-0/t--rousseau-enamel-lion-homecoming-father-and-son-reunion/
...me questions on the enamel dials. Hence, I have communicated with Patek so that we can understand more about this series. Mr Jerome Pernici (Commercial Director) was very kind and responded fully to to our questions.
1 - Is this Lion done with champleve enamel only or a combination of champleve and cloisonné? I noticed under the loupe that the hair and whiskers are wires just like cloisonné..
Answer: This timepiece only uses the cloisonné enamel technique.
2 - PuristPro moderator Patrick met with Ms. Anita Porchet in New York and showed her my post and she was very happy. She told Patrick that the most challenging part of the dial was the leaves below the Lion. Why were they so challenging?
Answer: Making the leaves below the lion was very challenging for the following reasons:
a) Many shades of green enamel had to be used to give depth to the leaves and their “veins”. These veins are not found on other leaves of the dial.
b) Furthermore, it is difficult to give (3D) perspective with enamel, making the realization of these leaves very difficult as they are on the foreground of the dial.
c) Enamel allows (3D) perspective with the right mix of color shades.
3 - A PuristS told us that enamel dial signed "AP" was done by her protege(s), whereas "A Porchet" was done by AP herself. Is that true?
Answer: This is correct. Please note that for enamel dial signed “AP”, Anita Porchet validates all color choices, the techniques to be applied and also indicates the exact execution approach. It is a very complex art requiring Anita Porchet’s presence at the workshop at all times.
To me, the A Porchet pieces are more rare (such as unique pocket watches with different enamel methods combined and it can go up to 6 different methods !!! ) but their prices are much higher. Overall I view Ms. Porchet as a top enamel brand, just like Patek for watches! Hence, I am very happy with the price point and value for money with my AP piece because she is fully involved in these pieces.
Today I had an enamel Lion GTG with a PuristS who chased the lion after reading my posts and got addicted & finally hunted it down! Can you tell which is mine (check photos from my previous posts) and his ? Can you spot the difference between these non identical twins ?
Below are pocket watches by Ms Porchet with signed A Porchet and AP and photos of Ms Porchet with a picture of her lion son. LOL ! Photos are all from the New York grand exhibition.
Also an owner with Leopard was kind enough to let me take photos of his animal.
My lion photo in a Chinese magazine and Lion + Leopard GTG below.
Which one(s) do you like and why?
Would you choose AP or A Porchet and why ?
Cheers,
Gordon
Comments:
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Breathtaking
By: runie : January 26th, 2018-08:56
I adore these rare handcrafts.... brilliant pictures
Oh no....
By: runie : January 26th, 2018-09:11
I know it was a big mistake not to take the lion....
It is never to late to hunt for the...
By: GLau : January 26th, 2018-09:18
lion, leopard, owl and/or bird ! My friend just got his Lion last week. There is hope ! Good luck if you decide to go for one or all !
What a wonderful post to follow up Gordon.
By: Huei : January 26th, 2018-19:48
Thanks for all the time you took and clarify with PP on the production and spirit went behind on creating this marvelous series of rare handcraft pieces. So informative and intriguing. Also interesting to know the method went into produce the watch is clo...
Hi Huei, You are most welcome and thank you for your kind words !
By: GLau : January 27th, 2018-08:50
Both the Lion motif and 5131 maps IMO are difficult to produce, and I agree that the Lion is even more difficult especially with the 3D effects of the leaves below the Lion. If the Master enameller Ms. Porchet admitted that it was challenging, I cannot im...
Thank you so much for this beautiful post, Gordon.
By: ChristianDK : January 27th, 2018-00:30
I am absolutely blown away by your watch and have really enjoyed your previous posts about it. I never gave much thought to cloisonné before but you changed that whith “the dream”. Thank you for bringing more interesting details about this amazing watch. ...
Illuminating Explanation
By: avatarian74 : January 28th, 2018-06:39
Gordon, thank you for sharing re: the enamelling techniques. Good to know that Anita is involved when the enamelling process of the dial is executed. Of course it would be better that "A Porchet" is engraved, but AP for me is sufficient enough. I also not...
Watches like this are incredibly rare..
By: FabR : January 29th, 2018-03:50
They didn't release official figures on this 5089 as far as I know, but it's almost certainly a number between 3 and 10. (10 was the official number for each of the 5089 dials they made for the NYC exhibition, and it was considered quite high!) So in Gord...
All are very nice!
By: patrick_y : January 30th, 2018-11:05
It's just such a rare art that I'd be happy to own any piece. Most important is to find a piece with a motif that you love. Rousseau's lion is definitely a universally likable one! One day, this art will likely become extinct! Suzanne Rohr and Anita Porch...
Very true... BUT....
By: patrick_y : January 31st, 2018-19:19
Anita Porchet knows several different enameling techniques. And there have been some pieces that have exhibited as many as five of the different enamel techniques in one single piece. Let's hope that one of the proteges can also master a combination of th...
Amazing "identical" twins!!!
By: KC_HK : January 30th, 2018-18:23
Great post with details of how the lions came to life!!! Being able to confirm these details is not an easy task! Well done! Left side of the twins is your, I believe. Up next on your collection radar, "A Porchet" enamel piece!! Wear in great health! Keit...
Thanks Keith ! I have...
By: GLau : January 31st, 2018-09:06
forgotten whether the left or right is mine ! LOL ! The second close-up shot is mine. An "A Porchet" piece will definitely be good but it will cost me two arms and two legs. Hence, I will not be able to wear or hold the piece ! :-p Cheers, Gordon