Glossary · Trade
Rose engine
A specialised ornamental lathe used to cut repeating guilloché patterns.
Explanation
Rose engine turning (guilloché) cuts fine geometric patterns into dials and cases with a hand-guided lathe whose head rocks against rosette cams. True engine-turned dials have a crispness and depth that stamped imitations lack. The craft nearly died with the quartz era and survives in a handful of workshops; Breguet dials remain its most famous showcase.
In the object catalogue
Catalogued objects whose own source record mentions “Rose engine”. The quoted line shows where; it is the seller’s or museum’s wording, not independent verification.
