Wyler Vetta presents a new hand-operated mechanical chronograph with a finely worked dial using the 'gilt' technique.
Wyler Vetta expands its offer of chronographs with the new Chronographe 38 mm Gilt, a watch that pays homage to the rich heritage of the House through the use of a dial finely worked according to the 'gilt' technique, term derived from the archaic English 'gilded'. The creation of a dial with a 'gilt' finish is a synthesis of technique, art and historical memory. It is a workmanship that recalls the elegance of 1950s timepieces.
The creation of a dial with a 'gilt' finish requires a complex sequence of technical and manual processes, inspired by the historical methods of the first half of the 20th century. To make a 'gilt' dial, in fact, one starts by cutting and blanking the metal plate, followed by drilling and contouring, which define the shape of the dial.
The feet (which serve to secure the dial to the gauge) are then electro-welded with micrometric precision. The surface is then sanded by hand and then polished to a uniform shine. The chrono counters are turned to create the concentric circle effect. This is followed by pad printing of the graphics and a long baking in the oven to fix the enamel. The dial is then immersed in a galvanic bath to obtain the characteristic black 'gilt' colour, the result of extremely controlled parameters. After a selective washing that reveals the golden elements, the protective Zapon varnish is applied and fixed with a second firing.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the 'gilt' dial (characterised by the combination of a dark background and printed gold details) was a distinctive feature of Wyler Vetta chronographs. As in the case of the Hermetic chronograph with a steel case from 1940. In the 1950s, the taste for this finish also continued with pocket watches. Finally, during the 1960s, the 'gilt' style found expression in gold automatic models, particularly in the Vetta wristwatches with gilded embellished dials and applied indexes.
Wyler Vetta Chronographe 38 Gilt: hand-wound movement
This new chronograph from Wyler Vetta is driven by the hand-wound Sellita SW510 BHM calibre.
The new Chronographe 38 Gilt from Wyler vetta uses a 38 mm satin-finished steel case, dimension that harmoniously combines proportion and wearability. The absolute star is the aforementioned dial worked with the exclusive "gilt" technique, on which leaf-shaped hands are combined with Arabic numeral hour markers.
On the flange is the tachymeter scale, useful for calculating average speed over a distance of one kilometre. Slightly further inland, here is the telemetric scale, which allows the distance of a sound event, such as thunder, to be estimated. The chronograph counters are arranged symmetrically, at 3 o'clock for the chronograph minutes and at 9 o'clock for the continuous seconds. The Wyler Vetta logo is positioned at 12 o'clock, accompanied by the words "chronograph", while at 6 o'clock appears the words "water-resistant", taken from the original 1940s models. In this regard, the water resistance figure stands at 10 atmospheres (100 metres).
The dial is protected by a domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal, which completes the vintage look of this new chronograph. The screw-down case back is engraved with the words 'waterproof - gilt dial' and in the centre the inscriptions 'shock protected' and 'Swiss Made'.
Wyler Vetta's new Chronographe 38 Gilt is powered by the Sellita Calibre SW510 BHM, a hand-wound mechanical movement with an operating frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of approximately 56 hours. Finally, the cream-coloured dollar boar leather strap (with quick release system) is combined with a steel pin buckle.
Price3,300 euro.
