Kong
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Breguet Exquisite Dial-making Showcase
Last week Breguet Singapore
organised an event to showcase their exquisite craftsmanship in the
aesthetic of watchmaking at the Au Petit Salut French Restaurant. Two
artisans were flown for the occasion. Before the lunch, guests could
view and learn about the process of guilloche and also opportunities to
hands-on with an vintage engine-turning machine to engrave a dial.
Another artisan, who hand-carves the cameo dials showed his various
amazing work and answered queries from the guests, as this cameo carving
is less commonly seen in previous watch-events.
A recap of the educational afternoon before lunch ...
A recap of the educational afternoon before lunch ...
Entrance to restaurant ...
Let's see the guilloche work of one of the most complicated engine-turned dials - The Breguet Reveil du Tsar,
with 7 engraved patterns!
Breguet Reveil du Tsar showcase ...
The steps were printed with corresponding sample for each step ... good illustration !
Gold base-plate
Tracing of the perimeters of areas to be engraved ...
Starting with sub-dials area ... 4 types of patterns just for the 3 subdials ..
Semi-finished before galvanising ...
The finished dial
( Note, it is photographed upside down as there are guests on the opposite side)
The artisan, Mr Daniel Tille, guilloche master who not only does the engine-turn-engraving, he services this near century-old
turning machine (circa 1927) and fabricates the tools for all engravings.
Marvelous to see the centurian engine-turning machine!
Mr Daniel Tille preparing a dial for hands-on session ...
Note he is looking through the microscope with video attachment, so we could witness the engraving on the large LCD screen on his right.
Mr Daniel Tille
Mr Fabien Levrion, Vice President of Swatch Group Singapore - Breguet has the first drive
Followed by Ms Rosemary Loh, Marketing & Public Relations Manager Breguet Singapore. Her progress of engraving the dial was 'live' on screen.
Changing a new dial as more guests wanting to try ...
Hands-on by guests ...
Next is the lesser seen cameo carving on seashell ...
A showcase to illustrate the steps to complete a cameo dial ....
Hand-carving of the Reine de Naples Cammea dial
A detailed explanation of the steps to create the Reine de Naples Cammea dial in two slides. Depending on the complexity of the work,
a cameo-carved dial may need days to 2 weeks to complete.
Note on the word 'contrast' ... the work is like still life drawing with light and shading
Press members photographing some of the intricate work of ...
Mr Fabio Ottaviano, Cameo-carving master.
The steps from beginning to end of the cameo carving of the Reine de Naples Cammea dial from seashell ...
The raw material ... large Sardonix seashell or Cassis Madagascariensis with two layers of colours - white surface and brown underlying.
These are all the tools - chisels and hands to create any cameo dial which Mr Daniel Tille requires ... not even any microscope or loupe!
Patient removing of layer by layer of the white layer of the seashell to form the shape and the shading ...
The seashell piece after the initial sketch of the image is adhered on the holder with hot wax...
From left piece, selecting a flat portion of the shell, cut the perimeter of the dial, sketch the image ...
Then carved out the outlines ...
and remove material till the underlying brown for the required portions ...
Now for some other marvellous work of Mr Ottaviano ... sort of miniature carving ...
The Last Supper ...
Note the 3D depth of the figurines of the Primavera (by Sandro Botticelli , which could be viewed in Uffizi )
With his Breguet Marine
Another variation ... floral petal engraving .. using specific raised portions of the seashell
The pointed/raise portion of the shell ... for the rose, likely is part of the new Breguet Secret de la Reine collection.
Camea dial with the Three dancing Graces ...
Another intricate work ... note the translucency on some portion of her robe!
Another cameo carving of the Primavera (by Sandro Botticelli )
Some exceptional watches showcased ...
Reine de Naples Jour-Nuit 8998BB
Classique Hora Mundi 5719PT
Classique 'Grande Complication' Openwork 3355PT
Tourbillon Messidor 5335BR
Classique 'Grande Complication' 5359BB
Classique 'Grande Complication' 1801BR
Marine GMT 5857BR
Before lunch, Mr Fabien Levrion, thanked the guests for attending ...
also introducing some of the watch pieces showcased ...
The Two Artisans - Mr Daniel Tille & Mr Fabio Ottaviano .... great to see both!
Proceed to lunch ...
One of the novelties exhibited at the dinning area - Classic Reserve de Marches 5277
Lunch menu
Thanks to Breguet for the wonderful afternoon and a better insight of the work of both the artisans - Mr Ottaviano and Mr Tille.
Kong
This message has been edited by Kong on 2013-09-22 20:35:36
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Breguet Exquisite Dial-making Showcase
Last week Breguet Singapore organised an event to showcase their exquisite craftsmanship in the aesthetic of watchmaking at the Au Petit Salut French Restaurant. Two artisans were flown for the occasion. Before the lunch, guests could view and learn about...
If I had to sum Breguet in a few pictures, these would be these ones. Well done, Kong.
And Exquisite is the word! Best, Nicolas
Another awesome post, exquisite carvings and pictures.
Hello Kong Thanks for taking your time and sharing, exceptional post. Kind regards Anthony
Those sea shell dial carvings are simply breathtaking
WOW! Thanks for the report and great pictures! Cheers, Anthony
This entire post is outstanding ...
Thank you very much for sharing this entire process. What a show! Cheers, Nilo
Looks like a nice afternoon
For a long time they had a Guilloche machine in the shop window of the Geneva Boutique ~aaronm/paris2007/sat27/tn I wish I had a chance to see it in operation.. A ...
Thanks ...
for sharing, A. Surprised, they placed a machine permanently in a boutique. Kong
Thanks Kong for the excellent report!
I read this post again and again and drooled on the pictures! :p Whether engine turned guilloche or mop or enamel. .. Breguet does make some excellent dials! Even if I am not a fan of all their dial designs, I definitely appreciate the craftsmanship invol...
Dial-work indeed ...
awesome ... check out the work on the Reveil du Tsar dial at the boutique. If looking for something really great for the other half (hopefully her wrist could wear it) is the Reine De Naples Steel 8967ST , good value in terms of form & function. Thank...