brandon.c
161
The question "What counts as hand-finishing?" can have many answers
One can argue that using a hand-held rotary tool to polish bevels is a form of hand-finishing (a technique used by Patek) while another may argue that the polishing should be done without power tools to be classified as hand-finishing. The term "hand finished" really is an umbrella term used by watch manufacturers that includes techniques using power tools while giving the impression of it being a solely human-driven process.
I do not know the details about Blancpain but I imagine they are hand-finished utilizing rotary tools similar to most Pateks. I suspect that the tooling marks seen on bridges under magnification aren't necessarily a sign that it is completely machine finished, but rather the watchmaker applying the hand finishing step didn't do a complete job. You can find similar images of other brands' movements having below expectations beveling, and I usually think it was a QC issue rather than a sign that the movement was only machine finished. (Of course there are movements that are only machine finished, I am referring to movements that are marketed as being hand finished.)
Photo ”borrowed" from revolutionwatch.com
On the subject of bevels...
I heard in some of Tim Mosso's latest videos that the calibres in the Fifty Fathoms line have fully machine finished bevels. I really trust his judgement and knowledge, so this news is a bit crushing. I always had heard they were started mechanically and ...
The question "What counts as hand-finishing?" can have many answers
One can argue that using a hand-held rotary tool to polish bevels is a form of hand-finishing (a technique used by Patek) while another may argue that the polishing should be done without power tools to be classified as hand-finishing. The term "hand fini...
Yes, I think the hand-held buffing tool counts as hand work.
It need not be gentian wood with paste or what have you, but your point about machining marks is interesting. I think it would be nice if we had other movements to compare to from other owners' photos. This is just what I noticed on my own model. Thanks f...
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this Sjx article , where they describe the finishing of caliber 1315 in the following way: The movement decoration appears simple because it lacks contrast. The most obvious decorative element is the solid gold rotor, but even that has been dressed in a d...
Except few independents, the majority are CNC finished
As Brandon has pointed out, the use of power tools is largely adopted and can be classified as Hand Made, though it's a misty definition unless we set some additional parameters. Hand made with power trolls tools (98% of productions) and hand made with wo...
I believe they are finished off by hand.
I have seen a few of these now and they looked quite hand finished to me. Actually, they seemed better done than patek or even AP. To swatch group’s credit, both Blancpain and Breguet offer amazing levels of finish at the price point!
Okay, duly noted...
I agree with you, it does seem really amazing at the price and I have heard the better than AP/Patek remark before. So this is good news.
My understanding the last few years is that FF/1315/1150 bevels have been mechanically applied for a long time now
The effect is incredible, but dullness around corners led me to the same conclusion that these are not hand-finished bevels. I suspect they are created using the same technology and equipment employed on the caliber 1863 display caseback Moonwatch caliber...
My guess is they are still done by hand with an electric buffer. If there was a machine to fully automate this process, I think the results would be more perfect 😂
The corners in particular are a little inconsistent from one to the next which I would have expected to be more perfect and precise if machine guided. Additionally, if there is a fully automated machine for this I surprised this cost cut in the transition...
Ah.
So the best explanation is right now that they're like the Speedmaster, but possibly that they're finalized by hand. Understood, thanks Tim. I tried asking the brand about it, but there was no response from them for over two weeks now. So I guess I'll tak...
It's very possible
I don't want to lead anyone astray. My videos reflect my best understanding at the time I record them, and I never embellish to make a sale. Really, it wasn't until I started taking macro still photos of the 1315 that I began to wonder whether some kind o...
Okay. This is super interesting.
I will keep my eye out for more info over time. But you and I are in the same position: we'd just like to know the answer!
I don't doubt it!
I just wanted to know how this part of the movement is produced and whether it is by machine or not. Would add to the romanticism and align with the advertising if it was finished by hand (the handheld buffing tool counts).