The Irresistible Charm Of Guilloche Dials

The dial of a watch is arguably the most significant component because it not only establishes the general aesthetic of the timepiece but also influences the wearer's emotional attachment to it. Therefore, it is not at all surprising to see watchmakers go to great lengths to craft dials by utilising a variety of techniques to add layers of details and alluring characteristics.

Guilloche, an engraving technique that has been used to create fine and intricate patterns that look absolutely mesmerising, was first used nearly six centuries ago. When Breguet started using it to embellish their dials toward the end of the 18th century, it became popular in the horological sector. Since that time, guilloche has been a mainstay in the watch industry and has come to be associated with sophistication and expert craftsmanship.

Although guilloche art was in high demand, creating it was still a time-consuming process. Using a rose engine lathe has been and continues to be one of the most traditional and well-known methods. A cam, which was essentially a disc that rotated around an axis and could be shaped into the desired geometric pattern with the aid of a cutting tool, made up this large and expensive machine.

Because of the intricate process, the machine operator needed to be very skilled and patient because they had to watch out for applying too much pressure to the cam through the cutting tool, which could cause the cam to tear. The operator would have to start the procedure over if there were any errors.

Given the rose engine lathe's complexity and labor-intensiveness, only a small number of high-end luxury watch brands have used it in recent years. Other watchmakers have switched to a technique known as computer numerical control (CNC) machining, which automatically stamps and cut guilloche patterns in a much simpler and faster way.

The different faces of Guilloche are namely - Barleycorn, Clous de Paris, Sunburst, and Tapisserie.

The mid-century Genex that we have available on our website comes off as the ideal gift for the women in your life because of the sleek 32mm dial and an intricate guilloche pattern with gold and grey accents.