Watchmaking Decorations: Function Over Form

To protect the mechanism, watch cases are nowadays moisture-proof and dust-proof. Previously, the exterior components did not provide this water resistance, which was one of the reason why watchmakers decorated the various components of the movement. The screws and other steel parts, for example, we

To protect the mechanism, watch cases are nowadays moisture-proof and dust-proof.

Previously, the exterior components did not provide this water resistance, which was one of the reason why watchmakers decorated the various components of the movement.

The screws and other steel parts, for example, were polished rather than matt, to ensure greater corrosion resistance.

Brass parts, such as the main plate, were adorned with Côtes de Genève to capture dust and prevent it from penetrating into the train wheels and disrupting the working of the mechanism.

Besides their aesthetic enhancements, watchmaking decorations and finishes had a mechanical utility.