Where’s the line?

So I've been thinking. Coming from tattooing as my trade. When I design something, I have to worry about how its gonna age. So it must be designed appropriately. Now with engraving, where do you draw the line of detail visible to the naked eye, or how much detail on certain softer materials, or things that will have a life of more possible wear?

Thoughts?
Opinions?
Experiences?

Hi R. Quecke. interesting question. I have two tats. I knew what I wanted, found an artist capable of doing them as I wanted. I paid the price and have no regrets. Not sure why engraving would be different.

Dan

i think it's a bit foolish to create work that a dude or dudess must use optical aid to appreciate the work.key word,"must".
why create that which is too difficult to see ? i don't mean one cant look at a work with a loupe to do a close inspection. i just feel the work should be easy to see.
i know a few stones will fly my way, but this is just my opinion.
as far as items go, some of the work shown here will likely never be used for it's original purpose. such as guns and knives. it would be insane to take a jewel encrusted knife or a fine bulino engraving on a gun out in the field for a day of hunting. again, jmho.

Precious metals are soft and they will wear out with the use along the time for sure. Planing ahead, you could place the finest details on recessed surfaces. This will prevent them from wearing out prematurely.

From the point of view of the owner, and knowing that the use of the object will wear it out, the decision of using it or not will depend on the purpose to which you want the object ...
If you bought an object just to show it and brag about it among people well, you surely will want to have it pristine forever.
But, if you bought an object for your own pleasure and enjoyment you will assume that the normal use will be wearing it out along the time.

Talking about me, I love S.T.Dupont lighters. I bought my first one 30 years ago and used my golden Line 1 lighter daily all that time. It suffered many falls and the friction with hands and pockets wore out it surface a lot, but I enjoyed it everyday. Now I have my second one, a Line 2 Gatsby. They are so beautiful and work so well that it is really a pleasure to use.
If I would had my Colt .45 ACP 1911 pistol engraved I surely will take it to the shooting range as usually!
Unless you buy such a thing as an investment, use it, enjoy it... we will bring nothing with us to the grave!

Hope I found the right English words to express my thinking properly. I would not like that this comment sound bad to anybody.

I think the last two posts made my point. Every client will have their own line, and it is likely that their individual lines will change over their lifetime. If a client wants a museum piece best viewed with a loupe then that is the line. others Will want a shooter that they don’t spend as much money for so they will not feel so bad if it gets a scratch. Their money, their line.

Leonardo-You said it perfectly in any language!

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