Coloured glass is ground to particles as fine as sand and then applied to metal with a brush that can consist of a single hair, under the exacting, scientific eye of a microscope. And, when this precise, careful process of applying colour was completed - often after 40 hours or more of delicate painting - 'it can still go wrong', explained Dominique Baron, one of the world's preeminent enamellists. 'The oven is my biggest challenge. I don't know until it comes out of the oven if the whole process has worked.'
Enamelling is an exacting mix of art, formulas and technique which requires a special mind and particular attention to detail. The secrets of enamelling are known by only a handful of craftsmen in the world today and at the forefront is Baron.
Her workshop, L'Atelier, Stern Creations, is a branch of Richemont International, through which she works exclusively for Richemont. Baron was in Hong Kong recently, when Van Cleef & Arpels showcased her art at The Landmark in an event focused on the wonders of enamel.
Featured in the event was the collaboration between Baron and Van Cleef & Arpels: Les Jardins. Limited to 10 sets worldwide, the collection features four gardens, or jardins, that represent various places and cultures. They are Jardin Italien de le Renaissance, Jardin a la Francaise, Jardin Romantique Anglais and Jardin d'Extreme-Orient.
The enamelled dial of each watch represents between 40 and 50 hours of painting, not including the time to design and fire the scenes. A movement eased a decorative panel over the watch face throughout the year, 'so the movements reveal different phases of the dial with the seasons,' she explained.
'I am inspired by nature, by everything,' she said. 'I love flowers; it's a pleasure to work on this type of dial.'
Enamelling is an age-old art that, in Baron's hands, is a marriage of art and science. Its origins date back to the 6th century BC. Items made of glass paste on gold in Greek and Egyptian pieces have been found. Over the centuries, this art has developed into a craft that is capable of creating extraordinarily refined and delicate pieces.