Manufacturing & Assembling the A&S Globetrotter Steel - A Closer Look THE EARTH DOME Step 1 - Mix Preparing the different blue tones with colour pigment. Step 2 - Oceans Painting 8 layers of translucent dark blue lacquer giving depth to the oceans. In between each step - Drying The Earth needs to dry 2 hours between each layer Step 3 - Waves Painting the waves with mother-of-pearl powder before the final layer of blue lacquer. Step 4 - Shores Painting the shores with a specific paint mixed with Super-Luminova Step 5 - Final Check - Final check under microscope, also with a UV Lamp. It requires 2 to 3 days to complete an Earth Dome. Utmost care is needed to paint the dome as the continents are mirror-polished and a single mishandling could damage their surface. THE UPPER BRIDGE Step 1 - Machining The bridge is first a metal plate that is chiselled to the micron with a CNC machine. In between each step The bridge needs to be washed and dried in between each step. Step 2 - Sandblasting The inner sides of the bridge are sand-blasted contrasting with the mirror-polished surface. Step 3 - Polishing The upper surface is mirror-polished. This step is particularly difficult due to the fineness of the piece. Step 4 - Plating The bridge is plated in a Rhodium bath. Step 5 - Final Check Final check with a loupe. It takes 2 days to complete a full bridge. Due to the fineness, the bridge is fragile and needs utmost care to keep the exact curve to fit on the Earth Dome. THE ASSEMBLING Step 1 - Dome Setting After assembly of the movement and the dial, the watchmaker can set the dome. This step needs a lot of dexterity as it must be lifted from the bottom and delicately put down on a central pivot. Step 2 - Dome Screwing The watchmaker secures the stability of the dome with a micro round nut. Step 3 - Bridge and Sapphire Ring Setting The sapphire ring indicating the world time and the central jewel are assembled together with the upper bridge. The ensemble is then placed on the Earth dome and must perfectly fit into the lateral supports at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock. Step 4 - Bridge and Sapphire Ring Screwing The upper bridge is secured with one micro screw on each side. Step 5 - Sapphire Crystal Fitting The domed sapphire crystal is fitted on top of the bridge. Step 6 - Final Check It needs 2 to 3 hours to the watchmkaer to assemble the Globetrotter. Quick View Arnold and Son Globetrotter Steel Available in:- Limited Edition Blue Dial EsperLuxeDecember 22, 2021 0 Likes