As we are in Switzerland, and not in Glashütte, GO is not able to show us the manufacture. But they did the next best thing – they brought part of the manufacture to Geneva. We were welcomed by the CEO.
We started looking at the Sixties Annual Edition 2019. The manufacture of the orange dial as shown below:
The starting point is a sheet of German Silver. In the photo above from top left to right. Next the date window is punched. After that the pattern on the dial is stamped with a pressure of 60 tons. This press also makes the angled chamfer on the date window. The dial is cut to size. Red laquer is then applied, it looks orange because it oxidizes and interacts with the German Silver. A layer of black is then applied. The hour markers are next milled on the dial and sealed with a clear laquer. And finally, by transfer print, the numerals are printed. And finally the SuperLuminova by a syringe like device applied by hand.
The next station we were explained why gold chatons are used. In the early days, rubies used are natural and come is slightly different sizes. The gold chaton is used so the rubies can be pressed in easily. Though it today, this is now essential because rubies are synthetic and are almost a perfect fit into the hole in the plate.
The chatons are attached by blues screws.
The screw is in steel is hardened and polished and blueing over an electric iron to a perfect cornflower blue. 290C is the correct temp.
And we were shown how the swan neck is polished with grinding paper and polishing papers of increasingly finer grade. This is done by placing a finger on the component in a figure of 8 to create a mirror finish.
Regards,
Peter Chong
Live in Geneva
2 Comments
I very much enjoy these travel reports. Thank you.
Thanks. Appreciate it very much. The reports are done “on the run” to convey the immediacy and I do apologize that the words and pics are raw.