Tag archives: cloisonne

I've got the beginnings of a watch case but, as of yet, no dial that I'm prepared to drill a hole in. I'm not going to put a hole into the cloisonné enamel frog!

My starting point is to create domed dials, this is because enamel miniatures typically require several firings and a domed dial will minimize warping. From fitting into the watch point of view, a flat dial would be easier but in the long term a domed dial will far superior for enamelling applications.

Warping is less of a problem for cloisonne (although still an issue) since the wires and counter-enamelling give the piece a greater thickness and structure that help to control warpage. However, I found a domed surface gives more interesting light reflections, it's more difficult to bend the wires over a domed surface but I got plenty of practice when I made these set of enamel doorknobs.

The next thing I did was to cut a dial shelf into the centre body of the watch case, i.e. into the ring I'd just made. I was designing as I went! As it turns out this is not the way the watch progressed but it did give me a wonderful way to display the cloisonné frog, or any circular enamel piece for that matter!

I've been interested in doing some watch dials for a while now. I've been inspired by some of these beautiful and amazing dials shown here. I'd like to explore making the watch case as well, as this will allow me to put some interest into the overall look and feel.

My pallet tends to grow a bit, here is the state of things after I'm mid-way through the enamelling. It's best not to expand too much, especially for a graphical piece. Although, having said that, the Amazon frog is partially graphical and partially a painting so all rules are out!

Here's the starting point for part 2, I've got an engraved disc of the frog and now it's ready to be domed.

These are the set of enamel colours that I got from Milton Bridge's British Enamels set. It was quite a lot of work but worth doing. I've got an order for some cloisonné work and need some compatible non-painting colours. The top three rows are the transparent enamels and the bottom two rows the opaque.

This photo of my enamel box is taken at the School of Jewellery, Birmingham UK, where it's on display in the Heart of the Heat Exhibition. I was there last Friday with my wife and son. We made quite a day of it, going to the Christmas markets in the centre of Birmingham, then going to see my sister and her partner for dinner before driving to Buxton to see my Mum, Dad and little sister.