The production method of curving out of a solid block of aluminum is frequently used in the Balmuda design products. In the industrial world it is called " cutting work. "
It is a very expensive method because it takes considerably more time than pressed products or die-cast ones, just to create identical shapes. However, one would not choose this particular method if it only offers a high price.
Balmuda design utilizes pieces crafted through cutting work mainly because of the beauty of the final touch. Take the "corner-work" for instance. Cutting work allows us to create sharp edges while other processing methods tend to make them rounded due to molding and stripping.
For the design purpose, sharp edges are important for many of our products. We chose the method of cutting work in order to protect the aura of our product design.

Now, I mentioned that cutting work is time consuming. But how much time does it require?
For example, take a look at the head piece of Highwire in the picture. We get in material to make pieces that have finished dimension of 1mm. First, cut their forms into the finished dimension. You may think it is better to have the material done in the finished dimension in the first place, but the manufacturers' cuts are rough and cannot be processed as they are.
Once the width and the length are adjusted, then one starts milling on one surface. Having completed this, one turns the work (the piece to be processed) over to mill on the other side. This particular piece, however, requires turning it over one more time to carve on the "R" shape as well as diagonally-cut area in the periphery.
It takes 40~50 minutes to get this much done. And this is the time required to make a single component. Highwire has another plate material in its head part, in addition to its base made by carving and cutting; about the same amount of time is required for the production of each of them.

For example, die-casting method can manufacture the same-sized piece fast, one unit in every several tens of seconds. A terrifying speed.
It is this time problem that makes cutting work costly, and ill-suited for mass production. Thus, usually, cutting work products tend to be used for a trial product prior to mass production, or a special-purpose item in small quantity. In the open market, they may be used in a very small item or a high-end audio component.

Well, let's go back to the picture. After the completion of cutting work, it got the expected shape. Yet it still requires additional work before becoming a proper component.