No modern technique of etching or laser cutting has been able to equal the grace and delicacy of an engraved line with its elegant curve and variation in width. 

I realised early on that the skill of hand engraving would need to be mastered in order for me to make the clocks I envisaged.

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The traditional manner of hand engraving, where metal is cut by pushing a graver through the metal, falls into two categories ‘Bright’ and ‘Filled’.

Bright engraving is where the engraving is left as cut and its beauty relies on the way light reflects on the surface of the cut.

Filled engraving is used widely on clock dials where a deeper engraved cut is filled with shellac wax.

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Bright engraving

Bright engraving is suitable for work on clock plates, builder's name and date, or plate decoration. 

Chapter rings and builder's name-plates can be engraved in sterling silver in which bright engraving is both appropriate and attractive.

Filled engraving

Filled engraving is suitable for dials in which the engraving is filled with Shellac wax. Grained finish can be circular or straight and produced with a 400 grit abrasive. 

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