Cartier’s production is most impressive, both for its scale and range. For instance there are 18 turning machines (specifically bar-fed, turning machines) in La Chaux-de-Fonds making only bracelet and clasp parts.
Below: Some of these Bumotec S-1000 machines were even specifically designed for Cartier, hence the C-suffix.
Below: A selection of components produced here
But even though the bracelet and clasp components are machined on a vast scale by enormous machines, they are deburred and cleaned by hand, one by one.
Case components are created the same way – fabricated on a machine before being hand finished.
Below: Case component production
Below: Case finishing
For example, the lugs of the Calibre de Cartier are polished by hand, both the brushed finish on the large surfaces and the polished bevels. In the photos below, the pink film on the parts is applied to protect the portions of the component that is not being polished.
Below: The parts are gripped in a vice for manual polishing
Note that this hand-finishing of cases and bracelets includes all Cartier watches, including the entry- to mid-range pieces like the Santos and Calibre de Cartier. So even though they are made on a large scale, these watches are nonetheless well made and finished.
click here for Part IV. This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-08 07:47:05