"The devil is in the details. And it is often in the assembly of a profusion of subtleties that the springs of a masterpiece rest. Art, Science, Technology, High WATCHMAKING Blends aesthetics and functionality, everyday life and eternity. Circular-graining, sunbursting, snailing are all methods of capturing light by playing with contrasts. As for the edges, they are softened, i.e. bevelled and polished, by tucking in the corners – a technique that is very difficult to achieve. A journey to the heart of the gears.
Pearls and ribbing at the origin of the finishes
The first finishes appeared with a concern for precision: to avoid light reflections on the movement assembled by the watchmaker. The beading technique consists of forming small concentric circles very close together, slightly encroaching on each other: a shrinkage of material of a few microns that reduces the shine of the surface to make it matte and avoid reflections. Today, with the evolution of lighting techniques, beading has retained only a purely aesthetic dimension.
The Côtes de Genève have the same basic function, but as their name suggests, it is a technique specific to the State of Geneva. They are no longer circles but large oblique strips that are drawn to ward off reflection.
Bevelling
Beveling – more rarely called chamfering – is a process that consists of cutting down a protruding edge by creating a small oblique surface. The aim here is to soften an angle that is too sharp.
Beyond this strict definition, there are countless bevelling variants specific to each manufacture. The trickiest? "Tuck in the corners" which will be formed by a sharp angle, a broken line. On the other hand, there is another technique. It's all about rounding off a sharp corner with the gentle curve that extends a rounded corner.
Sunshine
Another great finish of the movement is the Sunshine is the action of pulling thin spokes from a central point outwards from the surface of a wheel. Its variant, the Snailing is formed not of straight lines but of slight spirals. Finally, there is a final technique, called strapping, with, as the name suggests, concentric circles formed from the center.
At the same time, some brands have developed more personal finishes to dress the heart of a watch. Finally, if you are still hesitating about which model to lean for, do not hesitate to contact one of our experts.
