Case
The outer shell of the watch that houses and protects the movement.
What is the Watch Case?
The case is the structural shell of the watch — it houses the movement, supports the crystal and dial, and protects everything inside from dust, moisture, and impact. Cases are most commonly made from stainless steel, gold (yellow, white, or rose), platinum, or titanium, though vintage watches may use chrome-plated brass or gold-filled cases.
Case Components
A watch case consists of several distinct parts:
- Middle case — the main body, which bears the lugs for the strap and the crown tube
- Bezel — the ring surrounding the crystal on the front
- Crystal — the transparent cover over the dial
- Case back — the rear cover, which may screw in, snap on, or be hinged
- Crown tube — the threaded tube through which the winding stem passes
Case Work During a Service
During a full restoration service, the case is disassembled from the movement and cleaned separately — often in an ultrasonic tank followed by hand polishing or brushing to restore the original finish. Gaskets in the crown tube and case back are replaced. On watches with water resistance ratings, the case is pressure-tested after reassembly to verify the seals.
A Note on Polishing
Polishing a watch case removes a small amount of metal and can blur the distinction between brushed and polished surfaces that defines a case's original design. Many collectors and restorers prefer to preserve original surface finishes rather than re-polish. We will always discuss your preferences before performing any case finishing work.