The River of Life

For those who follow our NH3 project: a major break-through. Last night Josh completed the first successful guilloche dial blank in Titanium. This is a quite big deal for a number of reasons: the guilloche pattern generation and creation is no longer a mystery - we now have a very good understanding of how guilloche 'works'. Also, we are able to shape the profile of the carbide cutter to create perfect cuts. Thirdly, we are very pleased with the fact that the guilloche in titanium is not just possible, but the end result is eye-pleasing. Guilloche is a different kind of cutting process to milling or engraving because the cutter is scribing the surface, forming a constant and consistent chip. The sharpness and edge quality of the cutting tool directly correlates to the finish of the pattern. The pattern in high grade guilloche should be a mirror finish. Cutting a mirror finish in brass, silver or gold is relatively easy, but guilloche in titanium is very difficult - almost unheard of.   Quite frankly, we don't know of any other watchmaker who offers titanium guilloche dials so this is, at the very least, another 'first in Australia' for NHW.   The dial numerals, batons and maker's name plate are next - so sooner or later, perhaps in a month or two, we will have a complete in-house titanium guilloche dial.   Josh said that the dial pattern on this particular dial reminds him of 'the waves of Curl Curl beach'. Curl Curl is the closest beach to our workshop, at a distance of precisely 1970 meters. Its name is derived from the Aboriginal "Curial Curial" meaning river of life.   If you happen to know of any other Ti-guilloche dial project, please do let us know.   Like to learn more about the project? Here is a link to yesterday's recording of dial making in progress: https://youtu.be/buYhCUHwtgQ