One of a Kind Wisconsin, LLC

Guilloche (pronounced gee-oh-SHAY) is a repetitive, interlocking pattern that is engraved or etched into materials . Typically- it is seen today in vintage jewelry, in some construction (you may have seen the swirling patterns cut into stone), in mosaic tile work, or guilloche is printed on paper currency as a security measure against forgery.

Historically- Guilloche was an engraving technique that was mechanically etched into materials with a machine. These were very precise and intricate patterns, and were done with a machine that was invented by a French engineer named “Guillot,” and where the term Guilloche originates. The machine improved on hand done etching in that it was quicker and more accurate in regards to repetitive design work. These machines are no longer made and Guilloche in modern jewelry is only seen in high end watches- or so I am told.

When I think of Guilloche, I think of vintage enameled “Granny” jewelry that  has a hand painted rose over the enamel (like the picture above). Or I might think of Fabergé eggs. I hadn’t really given much thought to the beauty of Guilloche- until I saw this little Scotty dog necklace and fell in love. He is so shabby, wabby, chic cute- I could just die!!!

Examples of guilloche;

• Vintage Jewelry- typically lockets, pendants and brooches with hand painted roses over the guilloche background
• Faberge Eggs
• The front nose of Lindbergh’s Spirit of Saint Louis

The modern definition of guilloche is as follows;

Guilloche- as in vintage jewelry, just another thing to get obsessed with on eBay.

Apparently guilloche charms are highly collectible- so say eBayers.