Watch Case
The Go-To Guide for Watch Case
When looking to start a watch project, there are many decisions you’ll have to make. You’ll need to decide which style appeals to you, which features you need to have, and what price you’re comfortable paying.
Below we’ve listed out some details for the case, which will help you have a clearer understanding.
Table of Content
WATCH Case Material
Cases can be made from a variety of materials that include:
Stainless Steel
- Most popular
- Harder than gold to scratch
- Can be refinished to its original state
- 5.5 – 6 on Mohs Scale
alloy
- Most popular
- Harder than gold to scratch
- Can be refinished to its original state
- 5.5 – 6 on Mohs Scale
Silicon
- Most popular
- Harder than gold to scratch
- Can be refinished to its original state
- 5.5 – 6 on Mohs Scale
Ceramic
- Lightweight, space-age material
- Scratched only by diamond
- 8 – 8.5 on Mohs Scale
Carbon Fiber
- Strong yet lightweight
- An inherently modern and high-tech appearance
Titanium
- Lightweight and durable, space-age material
- Hypoallergenic
- 6.0 on Mohs Scale
Tungsten
- Dense metal-like substance
- High strength, hard and rigid
- 7.5 on Mohs Scale
Bronze/Brass
- Excellent resistance to saltwater
- Antimagnetic, low-wear, elastic
- Patina makes each watch have a unique color and pattern
Gold
- Yellow, rose and white. K is karat weight
- 24K is the purest and softest
- 18K is 75% gold
- 2.5 – 3 on Mohs Scale
Wood
- More and more popular recently
- Exceptionally light and comfortable
- Significantly cheaper than metal ones
- Eco-friendly & Hypoallergenic
Sapphire
- Scratch resistance and durability
- More colors are created aside from translucent
PVD Coated
- Increases durability
- Reduces friction on metal components
- Improves hardness and wear resistance
WATCH Case Shape
The most common case shapes include:
WATCH Case BEZEL
Before everything, we should know what actually a watch bezel is. Basically, the bezel is a ring in the top part of the watch which holds a crystal or glass. Typically, watch bezels are made out of metals but they also can be made out of other materials like ceramics. Depending on the price, the bezel material can be silver or gold.
Some watch bezels are fixed, some are snapping or tearing on, while others can rotate unidirectionally or bidirectionally. Watch bezels might be simple or have decorative elements like bolts or twists. As you can probably tell, bezels aren’t just for decoration, it can also serve a function.
Different bezels have completely different purposes, so here is an explanation of all 11 types:
– Plain Bezel
This is the simplest type of bezel with minimal added features. Occasionally, plain bezels are beautified with jewels or patterns
– GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
GMT bezels are ideal for adventurers out there. They display the time in your origin country. As well as this, you can set the dial to show the time zone in the country you are currently in.
– Decimal
The decimal bezel is often paired with a chronograph feature. It is split up into 10 sections in order to accurately display the time in decimals.
– Yacht-Timer
As the name suggests, these are used for yacht racing. They helpfully indicate when the race begins.
– Pulsometer
This is a vintage type of bezel. Medical staff used to use this bezel to measure the heart rate of their patients.
– Compass
The compass bezel was designed for long hikes. Instead of numbers, directions (NESW) are presented on the bezel.
– Telemeter
This bezel type tells you the distance between you and someone or something else.
– Slide Rule
If you are still wondering ‘what is the rotating bezel on a watch used for?’, here is a real-life example. The slide rule is a rotating bezel that calculates speed, distance, and time.
– Count-Up
Often seen on dive watches, the count-up calculates the time that has passed since any given moment. There are 60 separate sections on the count-up.
– Count-Down
The opposite of a count-up bezel, the countdown counts from 60 to 0, allowing runners to time how far they can go in that amount of time.
– Tachymeter
This is an example of a fixed bezel watch. First, you reset the stopwatch to 0 and then you can use it whenever you need to. It measures speed, time elapsed, and distance traveled, making it good for racing.
WATCH Case FINISH
The finish is the manufacturing process where the surface texture of a metal is manipulated to give it an attractive surface appearance.
– Polished
– Brushed
– Horizontal Brush
– Vertical Brush
– Circular Brush
– Sunray Brush
– Sand/Bead Blasted
WATCH Case BACK
A watch case back is like a hidden gem behind the watch and is often forgotten. In fact, a case back is a perfect place to show the culture and selling points of the brand.
Water Resistance
Below is the general advice on the topic of watch water resistance:
If your watch is not marked as water-resistant, never get it wet under any circumstances.
If your watch is rated to 50 meters/5 bar or less, it should only be subject to accidental splash; hand washing, dishes, etc. Never submerge it intentionally.
If your watch is rated to 100 meters/10 bar, it is suitable for surface swimming.
If your watch is rated 200 meters/20 bar, it is suitable for skin diving.
If your watch is rated 300 meters/30 bar or more, it is suitable for professional and/ or SCUBA diving.
A watch’s stated water-resistance rating is not permanent. Water & debris are kept out of watches by gaskets, and these gaskets can be expected to naturally deteriorate over time. At any time you have a quartz watch’s battery replaced, these sealing components should be thoroughly tested and replaced as appropriate and when possible.
You should never wear a watch, no matter the rating, in warm or chemically treated water, such as in a hot tub, as both temperature and irritants can damage sealing components and/or compromise water resistance.
