Horological Meandering

I've Got Your Back, Part 1

When you think of a watch, don't you visualize its face, and case? Do you imagine a little time-keeping machine on an outstretched hairy arm?

Perhaps you form an image of a stylish coat, shirt cuff, a few leather items and a shoe in the background? Or a vantage point showing the weather and where the wearer is vacationing?

HOWEVER, I'm writing today about the other side of the watch - its back.

We DO commonly show the backs of our watches, and comment on the movement, its finishing, the proportions of the case versus the window, and so on. I daresay if you look at this watch ...

and then I asked you "How was the caseback retained on the watch case?" it would be like me asking "What color are Pia's eyes" -- in both cases we'd have to look again to be sure, because the rest of the scenery is so striking we ignore the less compelling bits.

Foversta, Riddler and others, thank you for the use of your photos to open this series. From here on I will be using mostly my own photos of my own watches (or ones that I have handled).

CONSIDERATIONS

We focus on the dial because functionally it tells us the time, and aesthetically for its beauty. On many watches we place a fair amount of value on the case material and design, and finally of course the appearance of the movement (when visible). But we look through or past the back. I cannot recall any substantive discussion of the caseback itself: what it does; its value in the overall composition of the watch; its contribution to the comfort (or discomfort) of the watch; its functions, etc. It is these subjects that I propose to discuss in this multi-part article.

This discussion is meant to be "rational" but it's true that emotions play a large part in our appreciation of a watch. Back or front. With a caseback like this Maurice LeCroix, we PuristS immediately tend to lament, saying, "The window is too small, isn't it? or the movement is too small; the case diameter is too large for this older-generation movement" and so on. Whereas other watches with the same disjunction of case and movement hide it more effectively.

MECHANICS & RATIONALE FOR THE CASEBACK

Let's start with the mechanical function of the caseback. Its main purpose is regulating the ingress and egress of dangerous substances and individuals. This includes dust, dirt, liquids, atmospheric pressure, magnetic forces, corrosive influences, and (most dangerous of all) tinkering owners. At the same time the watch movement must be accessible for service, adjustment, change of battery, etc.

The first watches went in our pockets. Close to the family jewels. They were protected (reflexively) from attack or injury. Safe from bumping or immersion. Fitted with a glass crystal and often a hinged cover over that. They didn't have to be waterproof. As an example, my Howard pocket watch has a hinged inner cover, and an outer case back.

PROTECTION

As watches migrated to our wrists, watchmakers found they needed more protection. Such as Incabloc, Parashock or other cushions around the jewels, to protect the fragile balance staff. READ ABOUT THEM HERE. A crystal that is both tough and either hard to scratch or easy to polish. A case design that keeps water out, including seals on any apertures like pushers or crown/stem. A caseback that won't rust tight to the case or leak. A strap/buckle/bracelet system to secure the watch to our wrist, etc.

We needed some kind of integrated case and caseback design that makes it hard for owners, animals, pressure fluctuations, etc. to open the watch, yet easy for watch repairers. Thinking of the most impregnable case in nature that could also be opened under the right conditions and with the right tool, Rolex came up with the OYSTER.

Hence the name adopted for the waterproof OYSTER CASE.

Here is the back of a Rolex watch that remained unopened for almost 50 years. As I have an Oyster key, I was able to open it easily (easier than oysters, because I didn't slice my fingers).

COMFORT

In addition to sealing the watch, the caseback is the part that rests on the owner's skin -- therefore it should be comfortable and safe (no skin reactions). As titanium is inert, Ulysse Nardin chose to put a titanium back on their stainless steel Marine Chronometer watch. On this Seiko Astron, the case/back is curved to follow a wrist:

SPECIAL FUNCTIONS & ADJUSTMENTS

Alarm watches buzz or ring to alert the wearer. It's best to have the sound loud and clear, so they tend to have special case backs with sound-radiating capabilities. Here's a Memovox (thanks Nicolas):

A few brands make it possible to adjust functions of the watch via the caseback. RM is one, Urwerk is another. They are exceptions.

POWER ACCESS, WINDING & TIME SETTING

Most Swatch watches and most Accutrons have ports in the back for rapid changing of the battery or power cell. And it still says Waterproof! The smaller circular object has a flip-up handle for setting the time.

PITA is wound and set from the back. Ressence is set using a magnetic system. The UN Freak is wound from the back ... there are many exceptions to the rule that the back is just a cover.

INDICATIONS

Power reserves, calendar indicators, astronomical displays, etc. may appear on the back of the watch. If they protrude through, they can complicate the casebook's sealing job. If they are underneath a transparent window, then there are fewer issues.

MARKETING

On the watches above you have seen lots of writing on the casebacks. I contend that great marketing exposure may be gained from some watch backs! Here are some examples (thanks HSTE).

SHEER BEAUTY

Imagine that you can ignore the movement visible through a caseback. It is still possible for the materials, the curves, the touch and feel -- in essence the grace of the watch to provide a beautiful aesthetic experience to the owner.