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Eska Cloisonné Enamel Dial 14kt Yellow Gold Dresswatch, early 1950s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Eska Cloisonné Enamel Dial 14kt Yellow Gold Dresswatch, early 1950s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Eska (maker)
Date
early 1950s
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Wristwatch
Materials / technique
yellow gold
Dimensions
Case 34 mm
Stock no.
W-2548
Credit line
Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-2548)
Catalogue title (original)
Eska Cloisonné Enamel Dial 14kt Yellow Gold Dresswatch (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-2548), this is a wristwatch by Eska, dated early 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: yellow gold. Recorded dimensions: Case 34 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Bulang & Sons

There is something beguilingly beautiful about cloisonné enamel dials and they are highly sought after by collectors of important watches. Every season the biggest auction houses offer such watches with incredible dials. Today we have a very beautiful example by Eska that features a map of the Arabic peninsula, a traditionally dressed Arabic figure on a racing horse and what we believe to be a palace at the top of the dial. We believe that this watch was most likely a special order for a noble family due to the case back engraving that translates to “House of Lions”. The 34mm yellow gold case remains in really lovely condition. The case has a screw down case back with a cool curve on both sides. The dial is stunning with vivid green and red/brown on a yellow background. The watch is fitted with dauphine hands and a centre seconds. The watch houses an Eska Hammer automatic red gilded movement that has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. The case, dial and movement are all signed Eska. This is a very special watch with a lot of value in the incredible dial. You will love this watch and it will appeal to the real lover of important vintage timepieces. Please get in touch to discuss it some more. Specifications: - Eska 14kt Yellow Gold Dresswatch in 34mm - Case serial 145xxx - dating to the early 1950s - Cloisonné Enamel Dial - Eska Hammer red gilded movement - Comes on the pictured leather strap - Fully serviced by our watchmaker

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

Atlas type guide

Wristwatches

Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.

After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.

What to look for

  • The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
  • The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
  • Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
  • Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
  • Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
  • Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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