Vacheron Constantin - Métiers d'Art Tribute to great civilisations - Lion de Darius

On this monumental Grand sphinx de Tanis model, the work of cutting the stone with polished surfaces is admirable in its precision. The main dial is made of enamel whose deep colour, is obtained after six firings in the kiln. The necklace is trimmed with petals that are reproduced in champlevé enamel sprinkled with inclusions to give the outer frieze an aged appearance. Under this necklace, a winged hawk with a ram's head appears and the plumage of its wings is picked up on the dial – again in champlevé enamel. The last cultural component is the sapphire crystal bearing the gold applique and engraved by metallisation with hieroglyphic inscriptions from a cartouche of the sphynx of Tanis.