To gild

To gild is to deposit a thin layer of gold on the surface of an object, for protection and Decoration purposes. In modern watchmaking, Gilding is essentially achieved through galvanic means (Electrolysis, which makes the gold migrate onto the piece connected to a current) or by vapor deposition (PVD). It Applied marker as much to components of the Movement — wheels, plates, bridges, whose appearance it enhances and whose corrosion it prevents — as to elements of External parts (case, dial, hands): cases, bezels, Metal bracelet, dials, hands. The thickness of the layer, expressed in microns, determines its durability and wear resistance; quality gildings are therefore thicker and sometimes protected by a Lacquer. Gilding today largely replaces the old, dangerous mercury gilding. Combining surface chemistry with aesthetic requirements, it is one of the treatments that gives a component its final tint while preserving it, and fully contributes to the visual identity of a timeTime.