Enameling
Beyond decorating the dial, enamel work is a particularly specialised craft, one requiring rigor, patience, and technical mastery. After going through stages of grinding and cleaning, the enamel is applied with a brush to the gold dial while still wet, in a thin and consistent layer. It is then heated in a furnace at a temperature higher than 800°C. The final result is obtained by adding several layers of enamel until the desired color is reached.
Every gesture applied to the metal must be perfect the first time. If an error is made, the component is discarded. It is not an exaggeration to say that Breguet’s carvers and engravers are artists working on metallic canvas.
Ciselage carving is reserved for Breguet’s rarest timepieces. This decoration can be seen on the back of the main plate of many Tourbillons, on the bridges and winding rotors of certain complicated watches such as the minute repeater and the perpetual calendar, and selected other watches. Gravage engraving is widely found on many movements with the name “Breguet” engraved, by hand, onto the plate of the movement.
