The unique grain of a grand feu enamel is achieved by subjecting the enamel powder to kiln firings in excess of 800 degrees Celsius; during these firings, the pigments have to remain constant. Moreover, the enamel itself mustn’t warp or crack. This of course can and often does happen, and dials with errors have to be discarded. I think our photographs here capture the essence of this special dial quite well, but a grand feu enamel dial, with all its nuance, really is one of those things that you have to see in person to fully grasp. Near the six o’clock position, there is a “secret signature” etched into the dial. Such signatures have been a feature of certain Breguet timepieces since 1795, when it was created by A.-L. Breguet himself. You can’t see it just by casually looking at the dial, of course. If you could, it wouldn’t be a secret. You have to closely inspect it and tilt it the light just the right way.
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