Detailed Explanation of Watch Component Structure

　　Many people feel confused about the various components of luxury watches. Although the names of components may vary across different luxury watch brands, the general structure is the same. A complete luxury watch is generally composed of the watch head and the strap or bracelet. The components of the watch head include: the movement, case, caseback, crystal, dial, hands, and crown. Let us explore the knowledge of luxury watch components below!

　　Luxury Watch Components: The Dial

　　Mainly used to display the time, it is also crucial to the design of a luxury watch. It can be designed in different shapes and made of different materials, and the hour markers can be simple printed or applied indices. Commonly used dial materials can be roughly divided into metal, enamel, mother-of-pearl, and carbon fibre dials. Metal can be further divided into 925 sterling silver dials and lacquered dials. Lacquered dials mainly use brass as the base material, which is the most common type of luxury watch dial component. Enamel dials are generally used for high-end watch models. Mother-of-pearl dials are most commonly paired with ladies' watches; using this shell material to make dials allows one to perceive shifting, multi-coloured hues depending on the viewing angle. Although carbon fibre has a short history in dial manufacturing, because it has fibre-like flexibility, is lightweight, and possesses various excellent properties of carbon such as corrosion resistance and heat resistance, it is often used in sports watches.

　　Luxury Watch Components: The Hands

　　The dial of a luxury watch is like its face. Watchmakers successfully manufacture three coaxial tubes, with the smaller one rotating inside the larger one; the tubes are driven by the gears at the bottom. The three gears all project onto the dial at different heights to ensure that the hands do not obstruct each other when rotating. There are many styles of hands, but since the weight of the hands affects timekeeping accuracy, no matter how fancy the design of the hands, the material is still mainly common brass, karat gold, or blued steel, in order to control them within a stable weight range. For the seconds hand, in addition to being light and thin, the balanced weight at both ends is also crucial to accuracy. In addition, for greater durability, the hands are also plated with rhodium, which does not easily oxidise, making the surface brighter and more wear-resistant. Blued steel, also known as thermal bluing, is manufactured through a special firing process to emit a deep blue hue.

　　Luxury Watch Components: The Caseback

　　The role of the watch caseback is to secure the movement, prevent dust, and provide water resistance. Most are made of stainless steel. Text and patterns can be etched onto the back, and it generally has three assembly methods with the case. (1) Snap-on caseback: fits directly and tightly with the case (pressed on) (poorer water resistance); (2) Screw-down caseback: both the case and the caseback have threads for tightening; (3) Screw-on caseback: the case and caseback are secured with screws, commonly seen on square cases (strong water resistance).

　　Luxury Watch Components: The Case

　　Protects the luxury watch movement from external dust, moisture, or shocks, while providing a stylish and attractive appearance for the timepiece. The cases of luxury watches are generally made of steel, stainless steel, karat gold, platinum, high-tech ceramic (such as Rado), tungsten-titanium alloy, and other materials. Most luxury watch cases are made of 316L stainless steel.

　　Luxury Watch Components: The Strap or Bracelet

　　The straps and bracelets of luxury watches are divided into metal bracelets, leather straps, and other straps. Metal bracelet materials are divided into all-steel, gold-plated, bi-colour, and solid gold.