“Guilloché is proof that craftsmanship can be both artistic and practical”

- — CHENG YUCAI

Guilloché today is usually created using a form of engine turning, which Marielloni explains is “an ancient intaglio engraving technique that involves removing material to create regular and repetitive grooves on a metallic substrate. Unlike hand engraving, which can depict forms like landscapes or animals, engine turning allows for the engraving of precise motifs repeated identically. It has no function other than the emotion and pleasure it provides.”

The process behind guilloché is as demanding as it is fascinating. At its core is the engine-turning machine—a tool that combines mechanical precision with artisanal skill. The machine's rosettes or bars guide the movement of a cutting tool across the surface being engraved, while the artisan manually controls its rotation and pressure. Each line is cut individually, requiring steady hands and an acute eye for detail. A single dial can involve over 1,000 individual cuts and take an entire day—or longer—to complete.