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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Glossary · Case & Dial

Cloisonné enamel

An enamelling technique using thin applied wires to separate colour fields before firing.

Explanation

Cloisonné enamel builds designs from thin wire strips soldered to a base, forming cells (cloisons) filled with enamel and fired. On watch dials and cases it allows pictorial scenes of great delicacy, associated especially with Geneva and with later Chinese work. As with all enamel, condition is everything — cracks and restoration sharply reduce value.

In the object catalogue

Catalogued objects whose own source record mentions “Cloisonné enamel”. The quoted line shows where; it is the seller’s or museum’s wording, not independent verification.