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MOTHER OF PEARL DIALS

The Mother of pearl is applied in a thin layer that can fully or partially cover the surface of the dial, whose base is mostly made of Brass or Gold. The base of the dial is mechanically partitioned in order to precisely position and index the mother of pearl insert(s). The thickness of the mother of pearl can vary depending on the specifics of each dial, but it is often between 0.20 mm and 0.40 mm for a dial with a total thickness of 0.80 mm. Although fragile, mother of pearl is easy to machine. This makes it easy to drill the locations for the feet of the Applied marker where it is cut into complex shapes. Once the Mother of pearl has been machined and the metal base completed, the Mother of pearl is glued to the base. In some cases, its back will be painted in order to tint the natural color of the Mother of pearl. Once assembled, the Pad printing steps and the placement of Applied markers can be carried out according to the usual order and method. Mother of pearl also lends itself very well to Engraving hand or mechanical as well as to Guilloché (engine-turning). Even more rarely, Mother of pearl is valued as a support and decoration for miniature paintings.