I would be interested to know how these beautiful, and often elaborate, damaskeened finishes are applied to watch movements. Are the plates solid nickel or are they plated? How are the patterns applied? I have a Waltham with damaskeening on gilded plates and one with two-tone gilded and nickel damaskeening. I've often wondered how these finishes achieved.

Thanks in advance for any information.

Damaskeening is done with an ornamental lathe, or "rose engine". Either the movement (held in the chuck) or the tool, or both, are shifted by cams while the chuck rotates. This makes the rotary patterns. I'm not sure about straight-line or fish-scale patterns. Some plates are solid nickel, but most are nickel plated,some before damaskeening, some after.

Hope this helps,
Bob