Handcrafting Basse-Taille Dials in the Heart of Colorado
At 5280 Watch Company, nestled amidst the soaring peaks and clear blue skies of Colorado, we don’t just make watches — we preserve a rare and historic art form. Each basse-taille dial we create is a testament to time itself: a marriage of centuries-old technique and the rugged spirit of American craftsmanship, all born by hand in our Colorado workshop.
Our workshop, surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains, channels the same patience and reverence as the artisans of old Europe — but with a distinctively American, Colorado-born dedication to excellence. Here, the echoes of nature’s grandeur inspire every detail, and the spirit of craftsmanship lives in every hand-finished dial.
No two dials are ever exactly the same.
Our Handmade Process — Powered by Tradition
Every Basse-Taille dial at 5280 Watch Company is handcrafted in our Colorado workshop, using only manual techniques and a rare Rose Engine lathe. The process demands patience, precision, and reverence for the material.
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Hand-Drawn Design & Engine Turning
Each dial begins as a rectangular sheet of .999 fine silver, selected for its purity, brilliance, and ability to showcase fine detail. Using a traditional jeweler’s saw, our artisans carefully hand-cut the raw silver sheet into the precise circular form that will become the dial. This delicate and foundational step ensures that every dial is individually shaped with intent and attention — not stamped, punched, or mass-produced.From there, the design process begins. Our artisans sketch intricate patterns by hand, drawing inspiration from nature, architecture, and historical motifs. These designs are not merely decorative — they are functional guides for the detailed guilloché engraving to follow.
The heart of the basse-taille process is the engine turning, or guilloché, executed on our antique Rose Engine Lathe. This machine guides the cutting tool to carve rhythmic, repeating patterns into the dial’s surface, each movement controlled manually by a master craftsman.
The engraved lines may form waves, spirals, or geometric tessellations — each pattern reflecting the skill, experience, and creativity of the artisan. These are not digital files or automated paths. Each dial is an act of pure, analog craftsmanship.
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Surface Finishing by Hand
After the guilloché engraving is complete, the dial undergoes a careful hand-polishing and thorough cleaning process to prepare it for enameling. Every surface is meticulously attended to, ensuring that the enamel bonds cleanly and reveals the depth of the engraving beneath.While we strive for perfect precision in every cut, we embrace the subtle variations and human touches that come from working by hand. These tiny imperfections are not flaws — they are signatures of authenticity, adding character, soul, and uniqueness to each dial. No two are ever the same, and none can ever be repeated.
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Hand-Mixed, Hand-Applied Enamel
We work exclusively with vitreous enamel, using both translucent and opalescent varieties to achieve depth, color variation, and a subtle glow that shifts with the light. The enamel is finely ground from pure glass, then mixed by hand in small batches.Our enameling process is entirely manual. Depending on the desired effect, the enamel is either sifted evenly over the engraved surface through a fine mesh screen or brushed onto the dial with fine sable brushes. Each method allows for different levels of transparency and texture.
To ensure durability and prevent warping during the intense firing process, we also apply counter enameling to the back of each dial. This layer of opaque enamel balances the stresses caused by the front enamel’s expansion and contraction under high heat, preserving the dial’s flatness and structural integrity over time. It also protects the metal from oxidation and enhances overall longevity.
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Kiln Firing
After each layer of enamel is applied, the dial is fired in a kiln at over 800°C (approximately 1470°F) to fuse the enamel with the metal. This is repeated multiple times — sometimes as many as a dozen firings — until the perfect depth and clarity is achieved. Each firing is done by eye, and each dial is a test of skill and patience.
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Cold Polishing
Once complete, the dial is cold polished by hand to achieve a brilliant, glass-like gloss without applying heat that could damage the delicate enamel. This process involves gently rubbing the enamel surface through a series of progressively finer polishing compounds — typically starting with grits around 600 to 800 and moving up to ultra-fine grits of 2,000 to 3,000 — using soft cloths or pads. Cold polishing preserves the enamel and the intricate guilloché beneath.
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Final Inspection
After polishing, each dial is carefully inspected under magnification. Only when it meets our strict visual and structural standards is it ready to become part of a 5280 watch.
A Living Art Form That Preserves a Rare and Timeless Craft
Few watchmakers still practice basse-taille — fewer still do so entirely in-house. But 5280 Watch Company is the only one that crafts every detail entirely in Colorado. From design and engraving to enameling, polishing, and final assembly, each step is done by hand, under one roof, by artisans deeply committed to preserving this rare and historic craft.
This dedication sets us apart — not just in location, but in philosophy. Every basse-taille dial and timepiece we create is a product of genuine artistry and local craftsmanship, carried out with the spirit of the Rockies and the discipline of traditional horology.
These are not mass-produced objects or outsourced projects. They are Colorado-born heirlooms, built to last lifetimes. Each watch is a miniature work of art meant to be handed down through multiple generations, carrying with it the story of heritage, skill, and the unmistakable mark of American craftsmanship.
When you wear a 5280 watch, you’re not just telling time — you’re wearing a legacy, forged entirely in Colorado, destined to be cherished by your family for decades to come.