The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

After each plate and bridge is cut from its attachments, they are meticulously chamfered, satin-brushed and bead-blasted. Only when these special finishes are satisfactory, are they individually anodized to realize their brilliant colors. Electrolytic anodization requires special manufacture of aluminum components, and metals conventionally used for bridges and plates such as brass and nickel silver cannot be used.

It’s vital to mention that anodization adds thickness to these high precision components — between 0.015mm and 0.018mm — so watchmakers need to make their calculations according to the final bridge and plate measurements post-anodization, then develop and anodize these components with high consistency and little margin for variation. Only if the quality of the components are up to scratch, will they fit together perfectly when hand assembled.