The Jewelry Workshop of Cordes-sur-Ciel

The Cordes-sur-Ciel Jeweler’s Workshop: The Jeweler’s Watch Case

Located in Cordes-sur-Ciel , in the Tarn, the jewelry workshop plays a crucial role in the design and manufacture of decorative and ornamental elements of jewelry watches. This workshop combines traditional craftsmanship and modern technologies to produce unique pieces. Using precision tools, advanced techniques and meticulous know-how, the workshop contributes to the creation of ALB brand jewelry watches.

1. Lost Wax Casting: The Elegance of Metallic Details

Simon-Pierre Delord making a lost wax casting

Lost wax casting is an essential technique used to create metalwork such as cases, bracelet buckles, and other ornamental components.

• Kaya Cast : A vacuum casting system that eliminates air bubbles, ensuring smooth surfaces and high precision in detail.
• PARAGON Sentry Xpress 4.0 Oven : This programmable digital oven ensures precise baking of molds and melting of precious metals, guaranteeing the quality and solidity of metal parts.
• Electric furnace for 1 kilo hollow : Used to melt precise quantities of metal, this furnace ensures homogeneous and pure alloys, ideal for fine jewelry.
• Air exhaust system with carbon filter : Essential for ensuring a clean and safe working environment, this system eliminates harmful particles and fumes.

2. 3D Printing: A Bridge Between Tradition and Technology

The integration of 3D printing into the creative process allows for the design of prototypes and complex parts with unmatched speed and precision. The workshop uses calcinable resins, which allows the creation of wax models that will then be melted in the lost wax casting process.

• Anycubic Photon Mono X2 and Whanao Duplicator 7 These high-resolution 3D printers are used to produce models in castable resin. Once printed, these parts are integrated directly into the casting process, allowing for complex shapes that are impossible to achieve by hand. This technology provides flexibility in design while maintaining the precision needed for jewelry pieces.

3. Lapidary: The Beauty of Precious Stones

Polishing work on the Lapida faceting machine

The Cordes-sur-Ciel workshop also specializes in lapidary work , which involves cutting, polishing and setting precious stones that will enhance watches.

• Lapida Grand Comfort Faceting Set : This tool allows you to cut the facets of stones with great precision, guaranteeing their symmetry and optimal shine.
• Highland Park Lapidary Combi : This versatile equipment allows you to cut and polish fine stones, ensuring a perfect finish and harmonious integration into jewelry creations.

4. Electroplating: The Art of Metal Deposition

Electroplating the case of a watch

Electroplating is a technique used to apply a metallic coating to a part, thus enhancing or protecting certain parts of watches. In Cordes-sur-Ciel , this technique is integrated into the creation process to add unique and durable finishes to the components.

• Electroplating module with Combi rectifier : This system allows layers of precious metals, such as gold or rhodium, to be deposited on watch parts. The rectifier ensures uniform and precise application of the metal.
• 5 x 1 litre tanks : These tanks allow the electroplating process to be carried out on several parts simultaneously, with rigorous control of the thickness of the coating for a perfect and uniform result.

5. Precision Machining: High Quality Finishes and Details

Machining is a key step in creating precise mechanical and decorative components, ensuring impeccable finish and flawless functionality.

• Cowells Lathe with all its accessories : Used to shape complex mechanical parts such as cases and crowns, this lathe guarantees great precision in the adjustment of the parts.
• Complete Cowells Milling Machine : This tool allows for sophisticated detailing and the creation of internal components with extreme precision.
• Emco Unimat 3 Lathe : This precision lathe is ideal for machining small parts, such as axles or cogs, required for watch design.

The Cordes-sur-Ciel Jewelry Workshop: Innovation and Tradition Combined

The Cordes-sur-Ciel jewelry workshop is a place where tradition and innovation meet to give life to exceptional jewelry watches. Thanks to the integration of modern technologies such as 3D printing and electroplating, the workshop continues to push the boundaries of jewelry creation while preserving the heritage of traditional craftsmanship. Each piece produced embodies the excellence and know-how of high jewelry.