The original commemorative plate from cobaco for baby, delivered as a set with the baby ring. We have commissioned a metal engraving artist to handcraft each piece individually.
To beautifully engrave letters
"Before engraving the text on the plate, I first write down the engraving content in a notebook. It's like a rehearsal to imagine how the engraving content will be arranged on the plate. Since the completed image is inputted into my mind, it becomes easier to make fine adjustments to the position of the text when I actually start working on the plate."
Every time an order is placed, it is said that the engraving details are written out like this each time.
After finishing writing in the notebook, it's time for the plate. First, draw a center line and then extend the frame by one character width on both ends to create the guideline.
Here we are, having prepared everything, we will finally move on to the engraving process.
Beauty and flavor balance
こちらは刻印棒。
"When I first started using it, I thought I would switch to something better once I got used to it, but as I continued to use it, I realized that the tools also develop over time. It becomes easier and easier to use. A friend who does engraving told me, 'Unless there's a really good reason, it's better to keep using the same tools.' In the end, I have been using the same one all along. As I keep at it, I strangely find that there are letters I like and letters I struggle with. By the way, I like the letter '1' but struggle with '2' (laughs)."
The commemorative plate is supposed to have a matte texture, so why was it polished to a shiny mirror finish? After reading the first part of the column, some of you may have thought that.
In fact, the letters reflect on the plate, allowing us to set the engraving rod in the desired position, which is why we intentionally polish it to a mirror finish. There are many meticulous adjustments made to beautifully arrange the letters.
I thought you would swing the hammer down with force and vigor, but it doesn't feel like you're putting in much effort. It seems that the trick to making a clean imprint is to strike lightly, tapping 2-3 times without much force.
We will efficiently stamp each character one by one according to the pre-written guidelines.
"Basically, I follow the guidelines, but for example, with 'TSUMUGI', since there are a lot of characters, I make slight adjustments to reduce the space between the characters so that it doesn't spread too much. On the other hand, with 'AO', since there are fewer characters in relation to the plate width, I adjust it to have a bit more space. I pay attention to ensure the overall balance looks good."
All characters have been engraved. While fitting firmly within the guidelines, the subtle misalignment of the characters gives it a handcrafted charm.
Take care until the end
Now that we've come this far, we're just a little bit away from completion. We'll use a power tool called a router to drill holes in the plate.
Remove the colored stones embedded in the plate,Carefully fit the stone table surface so that it is properly aligned. If it is inserted at an angle, it can be quite difficult to correct it to the right orientation.
Finally, we will finish with a matte texture by repeating the polishing process several times.
ようやく完成です。
Each commemorative plate is crafted one by one with care and time. Knowing this process makes me feel a deeper attachment to them.
For those who are considering placing an order, as well as those who have received a baby ring from us in the past, we wanted to provide more information about the commemorative plate, so we created this column. Thank you for reading until the end.
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The commemorative plate is made of brass, which has the property of oxidizing when exposed to air. For care instructions in case it becomes dull, please see here.
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