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Watch GlossaryCase

A watch case is the sturdy metal outer shell that contains the bezel, dial and the movement, and protects the watch from dust, moisture, and sudden shocks

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What Is The Case in A Watch?

A watch case is the sturdy metal outer shell that contains the bezel, dial and the movement. It protects the watch and its timekeeping features from dust, moisture, and sudden shocks. Watch cases are mostly made from stainless steel, but also other materials such as rose gold, titanium, even lesser expensive brass, with PVD coating and polish for desired texture, be it matt or glossy sheen. Watch cases come in different shapes such as round, cushion (round bezel stacked over squarish case), rectangular, carré (French for square), oval, tonneau and asymmetrical. Each body type if fit for a particular watch shape. One should be careful about choosing the right case type.

The watch case size is measured in two ways: lug-to-lug, basically the ‘arms’ that extend from the case to secure the strap/bracelet, or from top to bottom, which is the dial to the caseback. The method of measurement changes, depending on the edges or contours of different case sizes. View the inscription on the caseback for the final size measured in mm (millimeter). Highly complicated, masculine-looking watches range between 38mm to 46mm sizes, while dainty, feminine watches measure between 26mm to 36mm.

Examples Of Watch Cases

Baume & Mercier Riviera Automatic watch dodecagon case perpetual calendar
Apart from a host of complications such as perpetual calendar, moon phase, small seconds, and day-date, the 40mm Baume & Mercier Riviera Automatic watch stands out for its dodecagonal case (10-sided case) that matches the stainless steel bracelet
Girard Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition octagonal case
The bottle green monotone Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition adds to the features a subtle octagonal bezel atop a rounded case, enhancing its dial with rhombus-patterned surface
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori tonneau case
The 33mm Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori stands out for its unique drop-shaped tonneau case accentuated with a diamond-studded bezel
The Watch Guide
The Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster is nicknamed ‘Pac-Man’, ‘Mini Panerai’, ‘baby Panerai’ for its 40mm cushion-shaped case and sub-Luminor/Radiomir dimensions reminiscent to Panerai models
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Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster Shop The Collection
Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface rectangular case small seconds
Casting an old-fashioned appearance with its black and white tones and small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface rectangular case looks interesting for its slim rectangular case
Tag Heuer Monaco Racing Blue square case
The square case of the Tag Heuer Monaco Racing Blue offers ample space to contain the list of complications such as chronograph, date, small seconds, and 1/4th seconds in colours yellow and blue on the silver-hued dial
Nomos Glashutte Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Sky and Sand round case
The Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Sky and Sand feature 38.5mm round dials in stainless steel, 9.8mm thick, and cradle blue or beige dials with small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock

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