ENGRAVING

Engraving consists of removing material with a chisel.

As in other watchmaking crafts, sharpening the tool is crucial. The dial to be worked on is often placed on a ball (a weighted rotating stand).

During engraving, the ball, which holds the dial securely, often moves more than the burin itself. Dials produced in this manner are almost always unique pieces, offering the wearer a true work of art, akin to a painting, on their wrist.

Engraving has historically been used and is still used today, to inscribe the name of the manufacturer on a timepiece.

There is one notable exception where manufacturers were less inclined to sign their creations: erotic watches (montres polissonnes). Due to fear, particularly during times of strong clerical influence, creators often refrained from signing these works. As a result, today, a signed erotic watch carries greater market value. However, it is essential to verify that the signature was applied at the time of its creation and not shortly before its appearance in an auction catalogue.

Engraving has also frequently been used, and still is, for adding the owner’s name and sometimes commemorating a specific event.

The engraving can be done by a professional engraver who will do the work by hand.

Engraving can be done by hand or by machine depending on the company’s possibilities.

Engraving can be done by machine. Sometimes by chain and sometimes by laser.

DRIE engraving (Deep Reactive Ionic Etching) is a cutting-edge engraving technology used for profiling silicon components.