The Art Of Hand Finished Watches
The fine watchmaking of ROYTER
Hand Polished Watch Case
The polishing and brushing of ROYTER watch case is all done by hand exclusively by Dan himself. It takes many man-hours to make sure every surface and every angle reflects the ultimate expression of hand finished watch. With only perfection in mind, each case is executed one by one to the highest level of watchmaking. It requires Royter to apply just the right amount of pressure using special tools in order to have the perfectly balanced mirror polished lugs and ideally brushed surface of the case flanks where the hairline strokes are perfectly even. The process of applying these finishing techniques requires a very steady hand, an intense attention to detail and many years of experience.
Freehand Engraving
Every ROYTER timepiece comes with a special hand engraved winding rotor, executed by a highly skilled artisan. Hand-engraving, a very complex, time-consuming and rarefied art, ads a unique character to each watch. The depth of the cut and the curl of the lines are like an inimitable fingerprint – a personal signature that sets each individual timepiece apart from all others. Under a microscope, one will spot smoothly carved lines, that catch the light with unique brilliance.
Black Polished Screws
Even the a small detail like flat polishing of the screw head, change the overall look of the movement by enhancing visual appeal. First, the screw head is flat grained over special microfinishing film, following flat polishing process by rubbing the screw head over a zinc plate covered with some diamontine paste.The result is perfectly mirrored polished screw head that reflects black under different angle. We believe that hand finishing watch parts adds value to the watch when well executed, as every hand finished watch is unique in the sense that every hand finished part, every screw, is perfectly finished but still slightly different from the another.
REFINEMENT IN EVERY ELEMENT
The skill of the ultimate anglage is mastered through many years of practice, and the ideal result is only achievable by hand.The angle’s surface must be consistent with parallel edge. Applying too much pressure will cause the component to deforms; not enough, and the angle won’t be clear and sharp. As a result, chamfer highlights the shape of the the rotor with a breathtaking visual execution an exceptional play of light. Since the operation can only be performed by hand, each piece becomes unique as no two will ever be perfectly identical. One of the most complicated of hand finish methods, require great dexterity and skill.
Hand Finished Bridge
The chronograph bridge of ROYTER DR-02 automatic movement is hand decorated with haute horology finishing techniques such as anglage, beveling, Geneva stripes, and chamfering of the screw sinkholes. Each technique is a very delicate process that requires a specialized tools, steady hand and a highly trained eye.
CHAMFERING & POLISHING
A concave chamfer around the screw head opening and jewels is carved by hand with a special carving tool. After, using a softwood sticks, the chamfers are individually polished using diamond paste. A process is very delicate that can only be done by hand and a highly trained eye. The freshly carved and polished screw holes are shining with beautiful diamond like reflections. It’s a purely aesthetic craft, which goes hand in hand with attention to detail and contributes to the overall refinement of a hand finished watch.
Cotes De Geneve
Côtes de Genève or Geneva Stripes is another traditional decoration finishing technique that Royter watches uses. It features a unique wavy pattern of parallel lines and is applied to the top surface of the rotor which help to trap tiny dust particles to prevent movement damage. This pattern is made using a special machine with head piece that applies these waves to the surface, by moving it back and forth. Côtes de Genève has been around since the early 20th century, and to this day it's appealing beauty catches and reflects the light to give the rotor a sense of depth at every angle.
Anglage Beveling Technique
This Swiss traditional technique anglage which is used in high horology watchmaking for removing the edges between the flank of the winding rotor and its surface is applied by hand. Using various hand held abrasive files, the rough edge of the rotor is beveled to a smooth curve of a 45° degrees making sure that the thickness of the chamfer is consistent throughout the component, then using a soft pegwood stick with diamond paste it is polished until the desired flawless mirror shine is achieved. Only an expert hand can oversee a task so precise and time-consuming, which requires weeks of work and there is no room for error.
Hand Crafted Leather Straps
Our bespoke leather straps are carefully cut and stitched by hand of a true master artisan with the most attention to detail. We source only the finest leather material with various colors and textures available on the market. Our two piece straps are made bespoke to fit perfectly to your wrist so each piece is a unique work of art. It take many hours to handcraft and more than forty individual steps to complete a single watch strap. The process involves patience, meticulous precision, and a great deal of skill.
To ensure the durability and longevity of our straps we use crocodile under lining padding which adds a ultra luxury feel. An exquisitely handcrafted leather strap is part that makes your timepiece experience even more special. Whether you prefer a red alligator skin or white lizard leather, for us creating your special custom watch straps is about giving our clients the pleasure of a full bespoke freedom to match your exceptional ROYTER timepiece.
The Making Of Dials
The variety textures and colors that embellish Royter watch dials are the result of a mixture of high-level engineering, exquisite craftsmanship and pure chemistry. The challenging mastery of dial making demands strict knowledge of cutting-edge surface physics and chemistry as much as creative skill and understanding of a palette of colors. The naked eye nonetheless remains the final judge of what color may enrich a Royter dial.