Halcyon Watch

Before diving into the intricate craftsmanship, allow us to briefly explore the source of porcelain's unique and captivating radiance. The glossy finish of porcelain comes from the airtight bubbles beneath its transparent glaze. These irregularly sized bubbles create complex refractions and reflections of light, resulting in a rich, lustrous glow. Conversely, overly uniform bubbles produce a sharp and monotonous glare, lacking the charm of traditional porcelain.

This explains why, when we think of the beauty of porcelain, we often envision the exquisite vases seen at art auctions rather than the everyday porcelain dinnerware. The difference lies in their production methods—everyday porcelain is mass-produced using electric kilns on industrial assembly lines, while artistic porcelain still heavily relies on handcrafting, traditional kilns, and the use of pinewood fuel.

The enchanting luster of fine porcelain is, in fact, the result of pine oil and resin released during the burning of pinewood. Combined with micro-dust from traditional kilns and subjected to uneven firing temperatures, these elements create airtight bubbles of varying sizes. These bubbles give porcelain its captivating and soft sheen. Despite being a centuries-old technique, this method remains a hallmark of advanced craftsmanship in the porcelain industry.

However, when applying porcelain to watch dials, this process presents a monumental challenge.

To ensure the precision required for movement installation, the flatness of the dial must meet extremely strict standards, with a maximum deviation of no more than 0.02mm between the highest and lowest points. Due to the glazed surface, porcelain dials cannot be stamped like metal or polished like stone or wood; they must be shaped solely through firing.

Yet, the same irregular bubbles that create porcelain’s radiant beauty also compromise the surface tension of the dial, making it exceedingly difficult to achieve the necessary flatness. This results in an exceptionally high rejection rate, as only the rarest pieces meet these demanding standards.

Thus, every piece of porcelain embedded in a Halcyon Watch is a one-of-a-kind creation, forged in fire and shaped by the trials of craftsmanship. Each dial is not merely a component but a testament to the seamless fusion of millennia-old porcelain artistry and modern watchmaking precision.