MANILONE operates on the belief that well-designed, top-quality watches should be accessible to everybody. The name originates from two words — “mania” and “lone” — representing our heartfelt passion for watches. We aim to craft timepieces that elevate your style, thoughtfully designed with superior mechanisms and materials, proving that premium quality doesn't have to be out of reach. MANILONE is dedicated to creating stunning timepieces for all.
Modern watchmaking has flipped things around: enamel-dialed watches today are rare and expensive rather than the norm. That’s because they are complicated to make. It takes time and patience.
Most companies don’t bother, but we do: because we believe that making premium watches accessible to a larger audience is important.
Imagine a watch built with meticulous craftsmanship and refined elegance. Think of a timepiece offering a timeless design, all at a surprisingly attainable price.
Unlike others, MANILONE watches use true enamel that simply gives off a radiant sheen and creamy texture. Hand-made by our artisans using a technique carefully honed over the years, eath MANILONE represents a masterpiece with high-end uniqueness one has to experience in person to appreciate, highlighted with demanding and meticulous endeavor.
What is Grand Feu Enamel
Grand Feu Enamel, meaning “Great Fire” is a type of dial finishing where powdered silica and other compounds are heated on a metal base at very high temperatures in successive layers, requiring multiple reheats that ultimately create a deep, glassy surface.
It’s a difficult process with a high failure rate and each return to the kiln jeopardizes the previous layers. Layers are used for a desired thickness and also for multiple colors.
Why We Make Grand Feu Enamel Dial Watches
The market bears this cost for a simple reason: enamel dials are uniquely gorgeous. Nothing else renders color like enamel does, it’s essentially stained glass. The problem is that the enamel dial is fairly difficult to manufacture. Even things like weather changes can result in fractured, bubbled, or blemished dials that need to be scrapped and redone, causing a rejection rate that’s often over half.
After all, the dial makes up so much of a watch’s personality that it’s worth going to extremes to produce something so eye-catching. That’s especially true in the world of ultra-high-end watches, where so much of the appeal lies in doing it just because we MANILONE can.
How Do We Make a Grand Feu Enamel Dial Watch
Let's look a little closer at how that fusion process works.
First, the artisan dusts the enamel powder onto the copper disk and then briefly fires it in an 800° C (1,472° F) oven, removes it, and allows it to cool, through successive layer firing and multiple reheats, setting the enamel. A beautiful burst of flame erupts from the powder burning off, giving rise to the name grand feu, or big fire.
Dial Enameling
After the firing, the skilled operator flattens the dial with a small hand tool and examines it for flaws. Flawed dials are rejected. Those who make it will be coated with another layer of enamel powder, and fired again. Then, draw the layers to achieve the desired thickness and multiple colors.
Completed Dial
Each time, the spectacle of the grand feu occurs in the oven. The process is repeated until the required thickness is achieved. Up to 6 or sometimes 8 firings may be needed, generally with 3 being the minimum. The thicker the enamel dial (the more layers), the greater the depth of color and luster on the surface. After the continuous cooling and firing, the intricate and beautiful dial has been finished.
