The watch pastime is one dedicated to consideration to the small print. So it appeared exceptional to me that, till this text, I had by no means paid an excessive amount of consideration to a whole space of a watch’s design — the case again.
The case again is an space the place a mess of watch manufacturers have had their enjoyable, expressed a aptitude for design, or maybe even shared an inside joke. On the identical time, others (I’m pondering the Hans Wilsdorf selection) have often mentioned extra with much less.
An appreciation for the case again
The case again of a watch began to land on my radar after the sequence of articles that my colleague Thomas wrote on the creation and execution of his VPC Kind 37HW (you’ll be able to learn these options right here). One component of the multifaceted course of of making a watch design is what to do with the mass of fabric defending the watch the place it meets your wrist, i.e. the case again. What materials ought to it use? Ought to or not it’s a see-through sapphire quantity to showcase a motion? Ought to or not it’s metal, titanium, or one thing else altogether?
Then there are the questions on what the case again ought to or shouldn’t present. So listed here are a couple of examples of case backs I’ve discovered participating and the the reason why. As at all times, expensive readers, I might like to learn your opinions and ideas within the feedback part. With out additional ado, let’s get began.
Picture: The Watch Membership
Omega: A bunch of attention-grabbing case backs
Let’s begin with Omega. The rationale I’m doing so is that Omega needs to be one of many main manufacturers on the subject of attention-grabbing case-back designs. Numerous trendy Omega watches function sapphire show backs, which exhibit fantastically machined actions. However lots of my favorites are of the all-metal selection. The Omega seahorse (hippocampus) began showing on Omega Seamasters in 1957. Not solely is it a lovely design, nevertheless it has additionally now change into iconic for the watchmaker.
The design provides a level of classically stylized aptitude to an Omega watch. Extra importantly, although, it connects the Seamaster identify to a logo of the ocean. Based on Omega, the design started with a member of the corporate’s designers getting inspiration whereas on a vacation: “On a go to to town, a member of OMEGA’s design division was struck by the well-known gondolas and the fantastically sculpted representations of Neptune’s Seahorse on either side. OMEGA’s image for its Seamaster assortment had been discovered, and the logo started showing on fashions from 1957.” Since then, Omega has performed with the design, together with including wave patterns on case backs to suggest the ocean’s floor. Bravo, Omega, on a lovely and iconic design!
The Seiko “Wave” case again
Subsequent, we come to a favourite of mine — the Seiko “Wave.” Seiko has a couple of completely different wave designs for its case backs. Right now, we’re discussing the one discovered on its Prospex divers (and classic dive watches, just like the 6309-7040). The tsunami brand, because it’s identified, represents a professional-spec dive watch that’s water-proof to at the very least 20 ATM (200 meters). You’ll be able to see a information right here.
It’s a frequent false impression that this design is a stylized model of a well-known paintings generally known as The Nice Wave off Kanagawa. Truly, as said above, it’s a image of the watch’s underwater prowess and its capability to resist the cruel circumstances of the ocean. This needs to be one in every of my all-time favourite designs for a case again due to what it represents — respect for the facility of our oceans.
The Certina “Turtle” case again
Subsequent is one other private favourite. This time, we’re trying on the Certina DS “Turtle” design. The DS, or Double Safety, is a kind of shock resistance that Certina launched within the Fifties. Throughout its improvement, the model included a number of attention-grabbing design developments. Primarily, the DS System allowed the watch caliber to “float” contained in the case because of an elastic shock-absorbing ring. This was along with an Incabloc shock absorber contained in the motion. Certina additionally positioned a small hole between the dial and the case in order that the motion might bodily transfer in all instructions. On the web site VintageCertinas.ch, you’ll be able to learn extra about this.
To designate the presence of this shock-absorption system in its DS watches and symbolize their sturdiness, Certina had a turtle etched on the case backs. Certainly, the DS System supplied a excessive diploma of ruggedness and shock resistance, notably for the time. Certina DS watches went on to be a part of a number of notable mountaineering expeditions, together with an try to ski down Mt Everest.
The Tudor and Rolex clean slate
Each Rolex and Tudor have change into the masters of the “clean slate” method to case backs. A lot of the Tudor Black Bay line options not a lot on the case again besides a concentric line of textual content with some technical data. One thing just like the Rolex Submariner will function nothing in any respect.
I like this less-is-more method. It not solely leaves house for personalised engraving (a standalone topic, to make certain), nevertheless it additionally riffs off the core founding ideology of those two manufacturers — understated excellence. Now, you can say that the core ideology has modified considerably over time, notably with Rolex! However at the very least many of those two manufacturers’ case backs take the identical method as the enduring fashions from the center of final century. Lengthy might this final.
The Grand Seiko energy reserve indicator
Grand Seiko is a powerhouse on the subject of trendy watch manufacturing. Sadly, although, there have been only a few of the model’s trendy fashions that resonated with me. One of many greatest points has been Grand Seiko’s repeated resolution to insert an influence reserve indicator on the dial of its Spring Drive watches. For me, this can be a blemish on what would in any other case be a fantastically symmetrical dial design.
However not all Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches have this. Some, just like the SGBD201, showcase their fantastically completed 9R01 motion beneath a sapphire window on the again, which showcases the facility reserve indicator beneath. In my humble opinion, this is without doubt one of the finest makes use of of an exhibition again. With it, Grand Seiko is using the sapphire as a real technical enchancment, offering a window for the proprietor to not solely recognize the attractive motion but additionally to see how a lot energy is left within the tank! This method, at the very least to me, is a number of the finest in trendy Grand Seiko design. That is an exhibition case again executed proper.
Closing ideas
Taking a look at a watch’s case again is at all times an train price your time. For me, at the very least, the case again has lengthy been an underappreciated component of design. Now that has modified! However, expensive readers, what would you say is an instance of an iconic or attention-grabbing case again? I might like to learn your recommendations within the feedback.
