Thanks, Don

May 28, 2009,20:42 PM
 

for the in-depth report.

Questions: in the polishing room, is it a two step process? It appears that the first photo's polishing wheel is quite thin and the second photo is much larger.

Also, is it a cotton buffing wheel and is a polishing compound used?

Thanks,

Bob

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

Watchmaking at Bulgari - Part 1 Casemaking at H.Finger

 
 By: DonCorson : April 8th, 2009-11:17
Ready for a long day investigating the industrial strength of Bulgari. Our meeting place is the Hotel Palafitte in Neuchâtel. Very stealthy, you would never suspect a 5-star hotel here, hiding behind the rushes just at the waterline of Lake Neuchâtel. Our...  

Lugs are not soldered, they are on a solid piece...

 
 By: Kong : May 27th, 2009-21:40
Hi BDLJ Write something about it on this sub-post with the rest of the pictures: home.watchprosite.com Hope that helps. Kong...  

Soldering

 
 By: BDLJ : May 28th, 2009-00:02
The reason I asked was that this was in Don's post: "These Bulgari Bulgari cases are also first stamped in a procedure with 7 stamps with a heat treatment in between each time to create the logo. Then the cases are turned and polished. Finally the lugs wi... 

Not shown the process...

 
 By: Kong : May 28th, 2009-00:26
I am eager to see too! From description is like a reflow process with solder-paste in between the joint. I guess it should have a fixture to hold the case and tubular-lugs in place before passing through the reflow oven. Some pics of the before and after ...  

There is more about this coming in Part 2 [nt]

 
 By: DonCorson : May 28th, 2009-04:15
No message body

Nice report Don..........

 
 By: Topcat30093 : May 29th, 2009-00:01
I look forward to reading your further reports.

Thanks for the report Don! [nt]

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : May 27th, 2009-19:41
No message body

Very cool, Don!

 
 By: dxboon : May 28th, 2009-01:17
How do they solder on the lugs and get such a seamless case? I confess, I've never inspected a Bulgari watch that closely, but I don't ever remember noticing any remnants of the soldering process. Don't ask me why, but I love to see the watchmakers wearin... 

Thanks, Don

 
 By: masterspiece : May 28th, 2009-20:42
for the in-depth report. Questions: in the polishing room, is it a two step process? It appears that the first photo's polishing wheel is quite thin and the second photo is much larger. Also, is it a cotton buffing wheel and is a polishing compound used? ... 

About the polishing...

 
 By: Kong : May 30th, 2009-18:54
Hi Bob It is likely to be a 2 step process. However at that moment, the thin polishing wheel was polishing another case. More pictures, as they are self-explanatory The larger softwheel, is a buffing wheel, not sure if the material is cotton. I think soli...  

Thanks, Kong.

 
 By: masterspiece : May 30th, 2009-21:59
I see that in a few pictures the Bulgari Bulgari bezel is present. I would assume that some of the polishing compound would get trapped within the logo type? great pictures! Aloha, Bob

Sharp Bob!

 
 By: Kong : May 30th, 2009-23:13
There should be loose compond trapped after polishing the BVLGARI BVLGARI. Beside ultrasonic cleaning, there should be manual process of using air-gun to force out the residues. A zoom in of a sample piece (not production piece) ... note the sharp definit...  

THx Don

 
 By: lien : May 29th, 2009-07:56
Always exciting to see how the works r done