Louis Erard Unveils the Limited-Edition Gravée Main

Since 2021, Louis Erard has been redefining the boundaries of Métiers d’Art, from Grand Feu enamel and guilloché to wood marquetry, and soon, gold wire inlay. Now, Gravée Main opens a new chapter, paying tribute to one of the oldest crafts in watchmaking hand engraving.
Gravée Main represents a new milestone in Louis Erard’s Métiers d’Art series. This limited edition of 99 unique timepieces places hand engraving at center stage, with every metal element entirely engraved and finished by hand, a meticulous process that requires more than 50 hours of work.

Glossary

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Glossary
Enamel

Enamel

Is a type of artistic finishing that involves applying a glassy coating made from powdered glass mixed with special liquids.

In watchmaking, metal surfaces of the watch are coated with enamel, which is then exposed to high temperatures to ensure the stability of the coating on the coated surface. Enamel coating is used in coating watch dials, hour markers, hands, and other components.

Enamel is used to create dial designs that are resistant to fading and can maintain their vibrant colors for centuries. Enamel dials are often found in high-end and luxury watches because creating them involves a time-consuming and delicate process that requires a high degree of skill.

However, they are also delicate and can crack or chip if not handled carefully.

There are several types of enamel used in watchmaking, including cloisonné, champlevé, flinqué, and grand feu, each with their own unique characteristics and methods of application.