The Widmanstätten structure, a unique pattern in meteorites
When you look at a meteorite dial, the first thing that catches your eye is the geometric pattern of intersecting metal lines . This is called the " Widmanstätten pattern," a crystalline pattern that occurs when meteorite iron, primarily composed of iron and nickel, cools extremely slowly in space over the course of millions to hundreds of millions of years .
How does a meteorite fragment become a watch face?
1. Sorting and slicing the rough
Only a small portion of a single meteorite can be used to make a watch. While avoiding cracks and impurities, the parts with beautiful patterns are selected and sliced into plates slightly thicker than paper .
2. Polishing and acid etching
After polishing the sliced meteorite, the surface is lightly etched with strong acid (acid treatment), which clearly reveals the Widmanstätten structure. By changing the direction of polishing and the intensity of the etching, the appearance of the pattern can be subtly changed, such as becoming more matte or sharper.
3. Rust prevention treatment and coating
Many meteorites contain a lot of iron, which means they have the weakness of being prone to rust if left alone .
They explain that they went through a lot of trial and error to avoid damaging the texture of the meteorite, and by applying a special transparent coating, they have developed a technology that prevents rust and preserves the texture .
* Anti-rust coating (clear lacquer or resin-based)
* Rhodium plating with color coating (blue, gold, etc.)
These treatments, combined, ensure the strength and corrosion resistance required for everyday use, which is why the meteorite dials of vintage watches remain intact to this day.
Colored Meteorite: How Colored Meteorite Dials Work
Recently, meteorite dials colored in blue, gold, etc. have become more popular.
This is achieved by applying a transparent color coating or PVD treatment to the surface of the meteorite, changing only the color while preserving the Widmanstätten structure of the base metal.
Renaultas has introduced the "Colored Meteorite" in three colors: silver, blue, and gold, explaining that "the color expression is achieved while maintaining the texture of the meteorite." At the high end, Bovet has adopted a dial with a blue PVD coating on a Gibeon meteorite .
The combination of space materials and coloring has led to an evolution into a more artistic expression.
What kind of meteorites are used? Typical types
Gibeon meteorite
Origin: Namibia Characteristics: Relatively stable and considered to be of the highest quality. Widmanstätten pattern with clearly defined lines . Used by many luxury brands (such as Rolex, Bovet, Czapek, and Louis Moinet).
Muonionalusta meteorite
Origin: Near the border between Sweden and Finland. Features: Fine and delicate patterns, slightly magnetic. Used by many overseas brands, including the Japanese brand NOZ, it is known as "one of the oldest meteorites."
Each piece has a different pattern, making it one of a kind.
Even if they are both Gibeon and Muonionalusta meteorites, the patterns are completely different depending on which part of the meteorite is cut out .
"Each meteorite fragment has a different pattern, so every dial has a unique character."
This makes them a big attraction for collectors. Also, the amount of meteorites that can be mined is limited, and there are regions where mining is restricted, so they are also rare materials with limited supplies in the long term . They are valuable rare earths.