A Fine and Extremely Rare Two-Color Gold Sweep Seconds Wristwatch with Cloisonne Enamel Dial, Vacheron Constantin, Genève, Movement No. 495823, Case No. 342035, Ref. 4983, 1953

18k, nickel lever movement, 17 jewels, monometallic compensation balance, micrometer regulator, adjusted to temperatures, polychrome cloisonné enamel dial, scene of mermaid with two tails in blue and green against a red background, gold enamel baton hands and gold sweep seconds, circular case with enlarged sloped bezel, raised compass-style white gold faceted triangular five-minute divisions, white gold inner ring, downturned lugs, triple ribbed band, snap on back, case, dial and movement signed.

Accompanied by a Vacheron Constantin Certificat D'Origine dated June 4th, 1997. This certificate had been written after an inspection at the Vacheron Constantin headquarters in Geneva.

The siren on the dial is probably a portrait of Melusina, the mythical character from Celtic, Northern and Eastern European tradition. Though there her shape varies from one culture to another, she is most frequently depicted with two tails, as in the image in the present lot.

According to the legend of Melusina, she was forced to take on this semi-human form every Saturday as punishment for having sought revenge against her father. When she married, it was under the condition that her husband would not be permitted to enter her chamber on Saturdays, lest he see her as a serpent from the waist down.

She is frequently seen in German and Scandinavian heraldry holding her two tails in each hand, similar to her pose on this dial. It is further interesting to note that the logo for Starbucks Coffee also depicts Melusina holding her two tails.

Models such as the present lot with cloisonné enamel dials are especially rare. This particular scene, with the two-color gold case is most likely unique.

For an example of a cloisonné dial depicting a mermaid with only one tail, see Cologni, Secrets of Vacheron Constantin, p.324. This example is in Vacheron Constantin Museum.