While most people will agree that the dial is the first thing anyone notices in a watch, one cannot deny that finishings on the case, though subtle, go a long way in enhancing a watch’s appeal. Finishes can often get overlooked, or more aptly, taken for granted, as they might seem all identical or because striking complications and movement decorations grab attention first. However, many brands spend substantial time and investment on ensuring that the finishings on their watches add that final touch of elegance to their designs.
Watch cases today are made from steel, precious materials like gold, titanium, silver, ceramic, are more, and each of these materials is enhanced with different finishes. Let’s take a closer look at the various types of case finishes here -
1. Zaratsu polish
Zaratsu is the phonetic pronunciation of a German company that manufactured a polishing machine, which allowed to create distortion-free finishing - watchmakers at Grand Seiko, for convenience, ended up using the same name for the polishing machine produced. Now, the Zaratsu polish is a signature finish at the Japanese watch brand Grand Seiko. It is a high-level finishing, and appears like a distortion-free mirror finish, achieved through meticulously polishing the case, section by section. Read more about it here.
2. Brushed finish
Also known as satin finish, the brushed finish is a very common type of finishing that most brands apply. One can observe subtle lines on the watch case and a certain texture, which are made by a watchmaker using a specialised hand tool or steel brush. The lines are more pronounced in a brushed finish as compared to a stain finish, in which is smoother, more uniform, and less textured.
3. Blasted or Sandblasted finish
Blasted finish is easily recognisable by its matte finish. Done mostly in dive watches, a brushed finish on the case hardly reflects any light. Tiny glass or sand particles are used by craftsmen to provide this finish.
4. Circular finish
It is a type of brushed finish, but just like its name suggests, the finish done on the metal surface is applied with a circular motion. Apart from cases, this type of finishing is mostly found on the casebacks.
5. Bevelled finishing
To do bevelled finishing, the watch case is polished at 45-degree angle to give the case’s edges a sloped effect. The process of creating a bevelled effect is called chamfering, and these edges are called anglage. With the bevelled effect, the watch case achieves more depth and looks more aesthetically appealing.
6. Polished finishing
This is also a very common type of finishing. It is done by buffing the case metal to get a smooth finish, much like a mirror effect. Though it makes the case shine highly, it is more susceptible to getting scratches and fingerprints. This finish is mostly found in dress watches.
Stay tuned to know more about the movement's finishes and decorations, coming up soon.
Images: Courtesy Brands
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