Unique Swiss 18K yellow gold and enamel dress watch Circa 1960

Gold keyless lever pocket watch
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An extremely fine and unique Swiss 18K yellow gold and painted-on enamel keyless dress watch, circa 1960. Accompanied by the original fitted box. The back with finely painted enamel made by Charles Poluzzi. In the 17th century Dutch manner of a lacemaker in an interior with a baby in a cradle by her side, polished border and band, and brushed bezel. Brushed silver dial with applied yellow gold faceted dart indexes and Arabic quarter hours, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds and yellow gold bâton hands. A rhodium-plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance adjusted to temperatures, blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometre regulator. Dial, case and movement signed.
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Diameter: 46 mm
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Signed: Vacheron & Constantin  Genève
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Watches such as this, with very finely painted enamel scenes executed by Geneva’s master enamelers were always unique pieces made in only one example. Carlo (Charles) Poluzzi (1899-1978) Born in Seveso, Italy, he moved to Geneva with his family as a child. He specialized in painted on enamel portraits and landscapes, in the style of works from earlier periods. In 1914, Poluzzi became an apprentice at the Fabrique démaux de Genève, while also pursuing studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.
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He obtained his diploma in 1918 and became a chef d’atelier during the next several years. In 1921, Poluzzi became naturalized, settled in Carouge, and set up his own workshop. Little by little, he became one of Geneva’s most respected enamel painters, working for all the important watch firms and painting the portraits of many important and influential people. He did some of his most noteworthy work for Rolex.