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Aubert Complications SA

the art of precision
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With the arrival of Franco De Icco at the head of Aubert Mécanique, the latter has changed name and its activities are resolutely geared towards the most delicate complications.

Now known as Aubert Complications SA, the company has experienced three births. Firstly, its founding in 1872. Even though complications were already on the menu, it became chiefly involved from 1901 onwards with the production of watch parts, wheels, index-assemblies, and top balance end-pieces, including presses and mechanical tools. The rebirth of the company took place in 1977, when it became Aubert Mécanique SA. It pursued its activities, mainly devoted to machining parts for precision mechanical engineering, covering fields as varied as the aviation, machine-tool, or laboratory instrument industries. However, this was now done in parallel with the production of high-precision watch gear-trains. Finally, in 2001, the company’s name was changed to Aubert Complications SA. Under the impetus of Franco De Icco, who has acquired a wealth of experience in Grand Complication workshops, particularly at Vacheron Constantin, the firm is now specialising in the field of complications, offering its clientele extremely high-performance products which are individually tested.

Burnishing makes a comeback

Located in the cradle of fine watchmaking, Aubert Complications SA does not actually develop complicated movements. However, it works in complete harmony with the precision characteristics of micromechanical engineering, including the delicate exercise of assembling complications. Future models arrive here as a set of parts, to be assembled by a set of top-flight watchmakers. Sometimes movements are already assembled, and Aubert Complications is responsible for casing them up. The finished product is then delivered within amazingly short deadlines. “We prefer to assemble and case-up the entire product”, says Franco De Icco, “since we are working the field of extreme precision. This is the ideal solution, both for us and our high-end clientele. But assembly or casing-up alone are also part of our daily activities. We remain very supple and flexible”.

Precision is definitely the company leitmotif: such great care and attention is devoted to this quality that burnishing, a technique that had disappeared, has now been reintroduced into the new firm’s new functions. It consists of polishing parts to a degree of precision such that a tolerance of 5 to 6 microns is reduced to 2 microns in producing impeccably smooth an shiny surfaces. This know-how is currently once again in demand, since all the arbors of a movement carrying the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark must be burnished.

High standards

Among its recent activities, the company has also specialised over the past three years in profile-turning, governed by the same concern: meeting the requirements of a high-end clientele.
Sinking and bevelling on the wheels, countershafts and crowns are all part of the services offered by Aubert Complications SA, along with circular-graining on the crown. Finally, the recent purchase of a state-of-the-art gear-cutting machine opens up new prospects for its activities. It is worth noting that each wheel or other component which emerges from Aubert Complications SA has been examined from all angles und the binocular magnifier, by ultra-qualified personnel.

Just as precision is consistently refined in micromechanical engineering, complicated watchmaking also triumphs over challenges in the workshops of Franco De Icco. The tourbillons, perpetual calendars, minute repeaters the most sophisticated chronographs are assembled and fitted with optimal meticulous care for an ever more demanding clientele.

Formerly known for its expertise in the field of micromechanical engineering and gear-wheels, Aubert Complications SA is now earning an admirable reputation in the field of horological complications. Its best commercial arguments are undoubtedly assembly and casing up meeting the highest standards of quality.

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http://www.aubertcomplications.com