Spangles - Dr. Tabby
5595
Judging Dial Work! Who Does Better Guilloche? Only You Can Decide!
Metalem versus Comblemine! I've tried and partially failed to find two dials with similar guilloche patterns. Nonetheless, I ask that you not judge the watch or the dial design (It's hard, I know, but try to put aside your feelings about either watch). Instead, I ask your sense of the quality of the work done by these two dial companies. I'd say they both do great work, but what do you say?
Metalem made this dial to Czapek’s specifications
Another by Metalem for Czapek. It's a sort of variation of grain d'orge / barleycorn pattern with two foci, perhaps?
Comblemine made this dial for Armin Strom a classic barleycorn pattern
Another by Comblemine in a sunburst pattern for Armin Strom
Judging Dial Work! Who Does Better Guilloche? Only You Can Decide!
Metalem versus Comblemine! I've tried and partially failed to find two dials with similar guilloche patterns. Nonetheless, I ask that you not judge the watch or the dial design (It's hard, I know, but try to put aside your feelings about either watch). In...
I find this a difficult question because I don't know if I am comparing like for like ? Do both companies use traditional hand guilloche methods such as rose engine turning or is the use of
modern technologies in use more by one than another ? This will effect my appreciation. Both beautiful dials BTW
That is a good question! Metalem brought in-house a small guilloche firm and the guillocheur behind it a number of years back.
Whereas Comblemine is Kari V's company and does their work by hand as well. So, yes, two companies both doing excellent work!
Now you have thrown the difficult question back ;) I think perhaps the technical complicated nature of Metalem is outstanding but the Comblemine barley corn is so mesmerizing this would be
my choice of the three ........if Breguet was not an option
As another mentioned, very hard to compare since they are not like-for-like
I also have my guilloche preferences, which are mostly aligned with the Breguet interpretation and execution, and similar dials. Quality is hard to separate from aesthetic preferences. All of the examples presented seem very well done to my eye. Cheers, J...
That's a good answer, I believe they are both hand guilloched (although I could be mistaken)
Breguet's aesthetic is for sure my preference as well! We can declare Breguet the winner and I won't mind!
Both stunning dials and great craftsmanship imho
Not sure how Metalem makes there dials but i have seen the craftsmans(woman) at work when visiting KV a few years ago. Also i think there is a differents in costs when ordering a deal from one of them . I don’t own a KV guilloche dial (yet) but love my Cz...
The price difference is a fair consideration (if anyone knows the price for either, please pm me).
I'm not sure how KV makes his dials and of what. Breguet today uses a disc of gold, which is the silvered and given a treatment to prevent oxidation. I believe guillochéd Pateks use this method, as a PP guillocheur told me they use a gold disc as a base (...
Having visited Metalem, Comblemine and Breguet Ateliers de guillochage,
they all use traditional methods. Metalem is pretty large and they craft superb dials. Breguet is also really impressive by the number of tours à guillocher, the number of craftsmen and the variety of the work performed (not only dials but movement parts ...
I know relatively little about guilloche
But I'd guess the main things to look at would be how complex and tight/dense the patterns are. The Czapek pattern is more complex with 2 origin points, but less dense. I think that's partly a stylistic choice along with the deeper cut they're using. The ...
You're right on. If you happen to have seen examples on the web of Metalem doing more complex work, please share!
I have no doubt at all they are capable of more, I just tried to post examples of their basic work (which is done at a high level, of course).
Will check this out! Thanks!
I'm guessing they do the work on parmigiani guilloché dials as well. How did someone find out about their work for Breguet? Is that somewhere I can read? Super interested!
I guess it's a secret.
How about the Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Tourbillon? Definitely Metalem? ...