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BVLGARI Fusing Art and Industry. The new Manufacture 2.0 in Saignelégier, Jura.
BVLGARI Fusing Art and Industry. The new Manufacture 2.0 in Saignelégier, Jura.WatchAdvisor
Jan 17, 2025
Bvlgari is significantly strengthening its integrated manufacturing strategy. The Saignelégier
Manufacture, an essential pillar of Bvlgari’s watchmaking division, has undergone a significant
renovation and expansion. Nestled in the Jura Mountains, it is home to the production of dials
and cases. On November 14, 2024, Bvlgari inaugurated the redesigned and enlarged Saignelégier facility, which now brings watch case and dial production together under one roof – a unique setup in the industry.
With the addition of a new floor, the site has grown from 3,400 to 4,400 square meters. Its scale,
along with the diversity of crafts it accommodates, enables Bvlgari to fully leverage the synergies
offered by vertical integration.
Driven by global enthusiasm for the brand, Bvlgari is expanding its capacity for high-end case
manufacturing by investing in cutting-edge industrial equipment, thus keeping pace with evolving
market requirements. The upgrades focus on modernizing production methods, fostering
interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhancing versatility and multi-skilled training. They also include optimized safety measures, improved work well-being for employees, and targeted measures to reduce the environmental impact of production. Notably, a new space dedicated to “Artmanship” – the fusion of Art and Craftsmanship – has been established at the heart of the manufacture.
The success of Bvlgari’s iconic collections – Serpenti, Octo Finissimo, Bvlgari Bvlgari, and its high
jewellery watches – is driving a marked increase in demand for its dials crafted with traditional
métiers d’art (artistic crafts and techniques). These dials, born from a convergence of rare expertise and artistic techniques, will now be crafted in a dedicated workshop for hardstone marquetry, peacock feather marquetry, gem-setting, and micro-painting. This new space is characterised by its dynamic rhythm, responsiveness, and creativity. Even more so than in the rest of the building, where significant efforts have been made to improve the work environment, the new Métiers d’Art workshop ensures an atmosphere of silence and calm, required for artisanal crafts.
The Saignelégier Manufacture is equipped with a range of large-scale production machines,
organized into workshops capable that can handle both small and medium production runs,
coupled with high-end artisanal applications. This setup necessitated a redesign of the existing
spaces to improve the flow of people and processes, the exchange of ideas, and ultimately, the level of production excellence. This combination of industrial and artisanal processes is being taken to the next level in Saignelégier, where, for example, lacquered dials that won’t tolerate the slightest presence of dust coexist with intricate hardstone mosaics.
Furthermore, the Manufacture now also features an additional floor with a staff restaurant and an
outdoor terrace, along with a new wellness and recreation area. Indeed, the redesigned Saignelégier facility places the well-being of its 130 employees at the heart of its design.
The roof, façade, and parking areas have been redesigned to accommodate solar power generation. These solar panels supply 25% of the building’s energy needs. Coupled with redesigned workflows that reduce electricity consumption, this underscores the commitment to sustainability at Bvlgari sites in alignment with requirements throughout the LVMH group.
EMPLOYEES: 130
SURFACE AREA:
4,400 sqm (after renovation)
3,400 sqm (before renovation)
SOLAR ARRAY:
816 panels, with an aggregate capacity of 360 kWp
MILESTONES:
2009: Site acquired by BVLGARI
2019: Establishment of the “Habillage” (watch exterior components) hub with the merging of case and dial production
2024: Establishment of “Métiers d’Art” workshop, small series unit, and staff areas
MANUFACTURING WORKSHOP:
Programming,
5-axis combined milling
3-axis milling
Applique production
Diamond polishing
Turning
Soldering
Cutting
Deburring
Washing
FINISHING WORKSHOP:
Manual polishing
Automated polishing
Satin finishing
Buffing
Grinding
Sandblasting
Laser engraving
Laser decoration
SURFACE TREATMENT WORKSHOP:
Electroplating (silver plating,
gold plating, nickel plating, etc.)
Varnishing
Lacquering
ASSEMBLY WORKSHOP:
Assembly (bonding, screwing, pressing)
Water resistance testing
Pad printing (decal application)
Applique fitting
MECHANICAL WORKSHOP:
CNC milling
3D printing
MÉTIERS D’ART (ARTISTIC CRAFTS),
ORGANIZED BY:
Gem-setting
Jewellery making
Micro-painting
Marquetry (hardstone, feather, etc.)
MATERIALS USED FOR COMPONENT
PRODUCTION:
Steel
Aluminium
Titanium
Gold
Platinum
Bronze
Ceramic
Carbon
Hardstone(s)
#wherethewatchesarethestars
#bvlgari #serpenti #octo
#bvlgari #serpenti #octo @bvlgariofficial
for posting this one, Mike.
