DIAL MAKING PROCESS PER JAMIE BOYD:
“I defined and formulated the method for creating the dials myself and
STEPS TO PRODUCE EACH INDIVIDUAL DIAL:
to my knowledge the method I have created is unique in the watch
industry. For this reason I will only refer to the automated part of the • The machine is loaded with a small sheet of the chosen
job as the ‘micro-machining process’. Basically I program my machine substrate and the saved parameter file created in 3 above is
to relief engrave highest quality vector graphics on to precious or base then loaded to the software and set to run.
metals in a way that replicates the micro hand engraving process, but • The engraved dial is then cut from the sheet in situ by
on an even smaller scale. The result is stunning fine detail.”
THE STEPS IN THE DIAL MAKING PROCESS:
One off steps per design as described by Jamie Boyd:
a separate process of fine-line deep engraving. Because the
parameter file for this is run from the same, centered
position as the engraving parameter file, the result is
extremely high precision, with the center hole and date
window positioning accurate to 1 micron.
• The artwork for the dial is prepared using a vector graphics • The dial engraving is then finished and abrasion cleaned
editor. A process which can take from a few hours up to with hand tools, to ensure that the result has the hand
weeks of time. engraved ‘feel’.
• The finished artwork is transferred in multiple, fractional, • Dial is then chemically cleaned with isopropyl Alcohol.
single layer files to proprietary software to be ‘pen & fill • Dial then ultrasonically cleaned.
programmed’ for micro-machining. • Dial feet fitted, cut to size and excess solder removed,
• Pen and Fill programming is a complex task which involves steps 4 and 5 then repeated.
creating software ‘Pens’ and ‘Fills’. To give you an idea of • Dial then patinated or chemically ‘aged’.
the scope available to me, 1 fill containing 1 pen can • Dial then goes through final tool finish; patination removed
have about 36,000,000,000,000 (36 trillion) combinations from all relief or non-engraved areas with a satin finish
of parameters, but materials like brass, bronze and silver applied to relief with hand tools and compressed air cleaned.
only utilize about 32,000,000 of them! This task usually • Dial then lightly polished with specialist polish for the metal.
takes me about an hour per dial material per design, but is • Final finish - Renaissance Wax or Lacquering (done in
then fine tuned after the initial test dials are produced. zdaily batches) 3 coats.
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