GEM SETTING

In watchmaking the setting was used in movements, to maintain the jewels that reduce the friction of the pivots, but also in its casing where it still exists. The jewels of the movements were set until the beginning of the 20th century in the bridges and plates. It is thanks to this kind of details that one can date timepieces.

After the beginning of the 20th century the rubies started to be hunted. Chased stones have the advantage of allowing flexibility in terms of height, which was less the case for rubies set in the bridges and plates. The casing of a watch is sometimes set with stones. The setting is a technique that allows to fix a stone in metal. There are many different types of settings for the watch case and sometimes the dials. Like closed setting, claw setting or invisible setting for example.

For small quantities the crimping can be done by hand. The crimping bringing a rather strong added value it is a technique also profitable for the artisanal method.

For large quantities, the machine will be used to prepare the metal to receive the stones. The rest of the work will remain manual.