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Movement Decoration Explained

For maximum of us see freaks, big part of the fun namely in the mechanical campaign. Handwound alternatively automatic, doesn’t matter, at all times it has a mechanical heartbeat instead of a battery operated electronic circuit (exceptions aside). Most brands use movements built at companies such for ETA, Soprod, Lemania etc. Other companies, the so-called in-house contractors replica omega, develop and produces their own movements. Sometimes, they even let other watch brands use their movements (like Jaeger-LeCoultre for example, Piaget alternatively Girard-Perregaux and there are many extra instances from the past).

Besides functionality, complications or matters accustomed, what (can) make them special or even stand-out, is the class of decoration of the mechanical movement. We always kas long asPatek Philippe does an conspicuous job and even applies a wonderful level of finish to those parts you will never penetrate when looking by the movement. Hiding under a bridge, rotor or however part… you know that Patek Philippe took care of those parts as well as the visible parts.

We likewise kas long as– let’s mention – watches under 1000 euro (or USD, as you hope) can’t maybe have the same movement decoration as an Audemars Piguet almost ten times namely value of money. Not for the lower-end mechanical watches don’t want to, merely simply because the spent hours and watchmaking competences will price them too much money and in the end, you will must disburse because them. It is fair a concession, and perhaps THE concession, you must make while opting for a watch from a lower segment. This perhaps explains why there is so many cost feud in an IWC Flieger chronograph that uses a modified ETA/Valjoux 7750 movement and a Sinn 356 Flieger.

So, what variety of movement decoration is there? Using the picture of an Audemars Piguet movement beneath, I ambition attempt to give some explanation ashore the techniques used:

Engraving: As simple as it sounds, it isn’t. Engraving is decoration done by either hand or machine, creating in relief or by hollowing, just like the family weapons and wording in the rotor of the AP movement as pictured above. It takes – ofcourse – a steady hand and in depth wisdom of drawing techniques.

C?ɬ�tes de Gen?ɬ�ve: Engraving shouldn’t be disturbed for other techniques used to build fine decorative striping or stippling. The most notable decorative technique for watches, except engraving, is probably Cotes de Geneve. As you can see on the movement pictured above, the bridge and other navel parts are decorated by these normal parallel wave-like lines. This type of decoration is mostly used on the apparent surface of bridges and bars and should be impeccable.

Stippling: I mentioned stippling already, and you probably surmised already by looking at the overlapping small circles on plate of the movement, just below the balance. Stippling (or smudging) is decoration that is very valuable to have acted tag heuer replicas, since the circular-graining machines are still quite infrequent and expensive.

If you ambition apt read more about movement decoration (since I haven’t said snailing, Perl?ɬ�e or Engine Turning), I recommend you visit The Montres Suisses blog. Also, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie has a great Fine Watchmaking Glossary segment.

I hope that this at least will give a better comprehending in why an ETA 2892-A2, Valjoux 7750, Soprod or other ‘commodity’-movement doesn’t forever must be commodity.

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