China is the most crucial base in the world, and there are countless large and small watch manufacturers in the Pearl River Delta, and these upstream, midstream, and downstream watch manufacturers form a huge and delicate watch industry chain each other.
If the movement is the core of a watch, the case is the main body of a watch. The case’s structure appearance and technology level is the direct reflection of a watch’s quality.
According to the material, there are mainly zinc alloy cases, copper cases, steel cases and titanium cases, and the general processing process of various metal cases is not too different.
The raw material for the watch cases production is the case casting/embryo, and the process is mainly: turning, milling, drilling, grinding, etc
The main processing flow of watch metal cases is as follows.
Case casting processing – Turning, drilling, and milling – Surface processing (polishing/brushing/sandblasting, etc.) – Surface treatment (plating, etching, etc.) – -Assemble case parts
Of course, this is only a general sharing of the simple manufacturing process, there are many details that have not been said, to do a good watch case not only needs meticulous processing from each department, the need for each process, the skilled workers, especially polishing process, the surface effect of good or bad all depending on the worker’s hands.
The finished watch case requires the following assembly parts: barrel, glass, bottom cover, bezel, decorative small miscellaneous parts and screws, inner cover, and o-ring, i ring.
In this article, we will explore the watch case manufacturing process, including the watch case size guide, watch case diameter, and more.
Watch Case Manufacturing Process
Let’s take a closer look at the watch case manufacturing process. The manufacturing process can vary depending on the type of watch case and the materials used, but there are some common steps that are involved in most watch case manufacturing processes.
You can see a shiny and beautiful watch case. Still, the environment of the watch case factory is not as good as we think.
The cutting processing requires the use of oil, and the work hands with oil and black, all are oil, surface polishing will also produce dust, if you go into the polishing workshop, out of a sure all of the ash. While the random chat is over.
So, Let’s check the process:
Step 1: Design the watch case structure and finished watches
Watch drawing workers is generally divided into flat draftsman (2D mostly) and structural effects draftsman(3D).
The draftsman first draw the finished watches, I generally draw 2D, 3D, and rendering drawings, to confirm that the details of the appearance of no problem. Provide 3D drawings and assembly drawings to the case factory designer, the watch case factory designer will draw the structural data drawings and our engineer will confirm, if no problem, We start to making.
(Generally, we will do the prototype first, and ensure that the prototype is OK before producing the mass order)
3D drawing
Assembly drawing
structure data drawing
Step 2: Roughly Process the case
According to the drawing, the embryo factory does the case blank (press the steel plate out of the general shape of the watch, see the below pictures for example)
Then use the machine to open the rough, cut off the extra area, but leave some margin (generally leaving 0.5mm margin)
Then the NC machine (automatic lathe) does the precision process, according to the drawing to machine the accurate size, generally, the internal structure is directly accurate in place (generally allow 3-5c tolerance range, 1c = 0.01mm a hair about 8c).
NC machine
After that, then by the drilling machine drills the hole and case lug holes and then returns to the machine grinding on the bottom area (left in the last processing outside to avoid the collapse) then do the next step- milling.
If the case style is different, the processing is also slightly different, the above is a general step, need to use the small lathe and CNC equipment.
Step 3. Grinding room Polishing
The grinding room is the most important one in the whole case processing process, and the above steps just make according to the standard process is ok, To ensure that the internal structure is correct, the appearance of polishing is all on the grinder’s craft.
Step 4. Case inspection room
After the cases are finished grilling, clean the cases, they are sent to the inspection room for inspection according to the grilling grade requirements, and the defective parts are marked with red pen for back grinding to make sure they meet the quality requirements.
Step 5. Quality Check
The quality department is mainly responsible for checking the case parts
The case accessories are generally: glasses, ceramic ring, I ring, O-ring (I ring or O ring is the waterproof ring of glass and bottom cover ), fill oil or fill luminous oil, hardware accessories (spring thread, octagon thread, watch screws), bar tube, and bottom cover.
Step 6. Warehouse
All case accessories check the quality of no problem are into the warehouse, respectively, registered into the warehouse. The warehouse confirms that all the accessories arrive and send to the packaging department.
Finally Packing
The packing department is responsible for assembling all the parts and doing final package
About Watch Case Size Guide
let’s understand the watch case size guide. The size of the watch case is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a watch. The right size watches not only fits perfectly on your wrist but also looks aesthetically pleasing. The watch case size is measured in millimeters (mm), and it is determined by the diameter of the watch case.
The diameter of the watch case is measured from one side of the watch case to the other, excluding the crown. The crown is the small button on the side of the watch used to set the time. Watch case sizes can range from as small as 20mm to as large as 50mm or more. However, the most common watch case size for men is between 38mm and 42mm, while the most common watch case size for women is between 26mm and 38mm.
Watch case size ultimately comes down to personal preference and what looks and feels best on your wrist. It’s important to consider the size of the watch case, especially if you have a small wrist or a larger wrist. A watch that is too big or too small can be uncomfortable to wear and may not look aesthetically pleasing.
One of the key factors in determining the size of a watch case is the watch movement. The watch movement is the mechanism that powers the watch and determines its functionality. There are different types of watch movements, including quartz, mechanical, and automatic. Each type of movement has different dimensions, which can affect the size of the watch case.
For example, quartz movements are typically smaller and more compact than mechanical movements. As a result, watches with quartz movements can be designed with smaller cases. On the other hand, mechanical movements are larger and require more space, which means watches with mechanical movements typically have larger cases.
Another factor that can influence the size of a watch case is the style of the watch. Some watch styles, such as dress watches, are designed to be thin and sleek, with smaller cases that fit snugly on the wrist. Other styles, such as dive watches, are designed to be more rugged and durable, with larger cases that can withstand harsh conditions.
About Watch Case Diameter
The diameter of the watch case is another important factor to consider in watch manufacturing. The diameter is typically measured in millimeters and can range from as small as 26mm to as large as 50mm or more. The diameter of the watch case can affect the overall look and feel of the watch, as well as its functionality.
For example, watches with smaller case diameters are generally considered to be more elegant and refined. They can be worn with formal attire and are suitable for occasions where understated style is preferred. Watches with larger case diameters, on the other hand, are often associated with a more sporty or casual style. They can be worn with more casual attire and are suitable for outdoor activities.
The diameter of the watch case can also affect the readability of the watch. Watches with larger case diameters typically have larger faces and numerals, which can make them easier to read. However, watches with smaller case diameters can also be designed with clear, easy-to-read dials that are suitable for everyday wear.
Do you now have a general idea of the how the watch case was made ?
