WatchTech - How is this finish achieved?

How is this finish achieved?

Hi folks,
Could somebody explain to me how this finish is achieved? My first impression is that it is sandblasted, but since
the examples I see it most often (from my vintage watch perspective) are watches from the 1860 -70s, I am a bit skeptical.

The finish is completely matte, I know some watch companies use it extensively nowadays in their watches as well. And I especially like how it looks.

Here is an example from a Louis Audemars that I particularly enjoy (excuse the poor photos). As you can see he winding wheels are finished in this matte non-reflective finish that plays off the very highly polished 'black finish' of the teeth and other portions.

Any pictures of how it's done (if there's been 'watch manufacture visit posts' where they've shown this specific technique being done) would be great. I am very inclined to try to reproduce it if at all possible, so technical details would be interesting.

Thanks for your time and input,
S

The wavy lines?

By: andren : December 28th, 2012-19:32

Are you referring to the wavy lines? It's quite typical of the Waltham railroad pocket watches. Hopefully this picture will post: I recall, in my travels and conversations, that it was done on a machine similar to a pantograph with a small rotating sandin...

Sorry

By: andren : December 28th, 2012-19:34

I must have read it wrong. The matte finish is, indeed, produced by sandblasting or bead blasting. Romain Gauthier uses it as a finish on his watches.

Yes the finishing on the wheels :)

By: Ancienne Le Brassus : December 29th, 2012-15:37

Hi Andren, Yes, it was that other finish. But thanks for chiming in. The swirling finish is also very beautiful and a big draw for me on most of the US pocketwatches!! Happy New Year (a few days early!) S

probably a number of different ways

By: ei8htohms : December 28th, 2012-19:51

Hello ALB, A frosted finish like the one you're referring to can be achieved in different ways, presumably distinguishable by an expert, at least in person with a loupe. Blasting with a specific grain and hardness of media can presumably get some similar ...

Very interesting thanks!

By: Ancienne Le Brassus : December 29th, 2012-15:42

Great, this is what i suspected. That there's sandblasting, but also that it can be done manually with the glass beads (although I didn't know with what compound and this answers it!) Would the the fine glass beads be used as in diamantine powder? I.e wit...

I'd be very surprised to hear about blasting being used traditionally

By: ei8htohms : December 29th, 2012-16:54

Hello ALB, Just to be clear, blasting (with sand, glass beads or what-have-you) is not a traditional watchmaking finishing technique in my experience and I'd be surprised to hear about any of the frosted finishes you've pointed out being created in that m...

Thank you for the follow up

By: Ancienne Le Brassus : January 8th, 2013-14:01

Thanks so much for taking the time to give me the page numbers and the clarification. I greatly appreciate it. I will order the material and give this finishing a try. If I achieve anything good, I will share the results :) Many thanks again for sharing y...

Sandblasted

By: info91 : December 28th, 2012-23:27

This is a sand blasting machine made around 1900 and it still works well ...

Operated with the foot?

By: Ancienne Le Brassus : December 29th, 2012-15:44

Thanks for posting this picture. Is it operated by pump action with the pedal on the floor creating the airstream?? Great picture and thanks for posting this machine! I looked up and saw that lots of gun parts are finished in this same way and now that I ...

Operated with the foot

By: info91 : December 30th, 2012-01:39

Its indeed operated with the foot. A big variety of ground material can be used for creating different structures. We shall also think about the difference of English and Swiss watchmaking at one point. Already at the end of 18th century Swiss companies h...

Thanks for this

By: Ancienne Le Brassus : January 8th, 2013-14:06

Yes, this reminds me of ebauche makers such as Japy churning out millions of movements. Thanks for the photos and sharing this info! Much appreciated!! S

Frosted finish.

By: paul.loatman : February 6th, 2013-12:08

Hello, I have done this frosted finish on many things. As has already been mentioned, you need granualized particles of something harder than the material you're finishing. I use silicon carbide honing powder, which is readily available and comes in diffe...