Why I'm All About That Case, That Case . . .

At the extreme, case design can define the appeal of an entire range of watches: witness the Royal Oak series from Audemars Piguet, which year after year trounces the sales numbers of the brand's other lines, including many lovely presentations of exactly the same inner workings in the more traditional Jules Audemars case Somewhere on the edge between form and design are the fascinating watches of Stepan Sarpaneva, whose distinctive case shapes make for a major element of their appeal In my collection, the "Tool watch" functionality of case design is most directly reflected in my Omega Seamaster Ploprof, a watch designed with a "Monobloc" case carved from a single steel block, screw-down crown with reinforced brace, and mono-directional rotating bezel controlled by a bright red locking button.

While it seemed for a while that high-end case decoration in the style of the grand pocket watches might never return, in recent years we have seen a resurgence of case ornamentation, including stunning pieces from Romain Gauthier and Kari Voutialinen I'm fortunate enough to own a Voutilainen watch with a case back engraved by brilliant artist Eddy Jaquet See Commissioning A Watch: My Journey With The Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph II.

All of the above may help to explain why I was so strongly drawn to the F.P Journe Anniversary Tourbillon T30 when it appeared on the scene: its gold-and-silver case with officer back and cross-hatched engraving was like nothing I'd ever seen Has case shape, design, fabrication, function, or decoration ever played a major role in your purchase of a watch?. Source