After development and R&D is construction. Put simply, technical development creates the movement and construction puts it in a case; the folks here design the case, dial and hands around the movement. One of the most challenging creations was the Astrotourbillon, primarily due to the multi-layered dial and orbital tourbillon.
Below: The Astrotourbillon
Note the complex construction of the various dial layers and orbital tourbillon in the cross-section below
On the lower floors are the areas for creation of prototypes. These include the resin models created by a 3D used in early stages of product development to fully working prototypes in metal used in the final stages.
Below: The 3D printer and the resin models
As such the prototyping department is fully equipped with all the tools necessary to create a watch, including CNC milling, drilling and cutting machines that make everything from movement components to case and bracelet parts.
Below: Prototyping
Below: A sample of the parts produced here including bracelets, cases and movement components
Of course the prototypes and early production watches are tested and this is also done at La Chaux-de-Fonds. For instance, down a corridor from the main lobby of the manufacture sits a large machine with a mechanical arm that slams itself onto a platform repeatedly, for several thousand cycles. Strapped onto the arm is a watch of course, undergoing shock resistance testing.
On the other hand, chronographs are monitored with a high-speed camera that records up to several hundred thousand frames per second. This measures the movement and flexing of the chronograph hand as it start, stops and resets, over several thousand cycles. The pushers of the chronograph are also tested to ensure that the force required to depress them remain constant over many cycles.
Testing of the new Calibre de Cartier Central Chronograph
Above: High speed camera
Above: the footage from the high speed camera
Results are then compiled in a report:
But this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Cartier owns another facility in a top-secret location that is one of the best equipped testing facilities in Switzerland; more to come on that in another post.
click here for Part III.
This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-08 07:46:34