Are you buying a watch, whether to engrave it as a keepsake? When choosing an inscription, is it worth being verbose? We figure out what can and cannot be done in this delicate craft.
You bought yourself a watch and want to decorate it with engraving. Do not hurry. It is tempting to succumb to a momentary impulse and inscribe a motto on the clock. Stop yourself: after all, your watch is a genuine work of art, and it is worth approaching the issue with all responsibility. When choosing an engraving, follow a few simple yet elegant rules.
Do not engrave the sapphire crystal of the lid
It seems obvious, but believe me, watch owners break this simple rule every other time. When dreaming of engraving on a watch, first check if there really is a place to engrave it. The cover of the watch, its back, should be a flat surface of steel, precious metals or titanium. Do not engrave sapphire glass!
First, there is a risk of damage to the part. It can be replaced, but it will take time. (The price list for this kind of services will not leave you indifferent either!).
Secondly, the sapphire crystal in the watch is made so that the mechanism is visible. The detail is put on a watch with a rare, beautiful technical "filling" so that you can admire it. It's an engineering marvel that watchmakers can work on for years. Many mechanisms have already become legendary. And, believe me, there is no greater pleasure for the connoisseur than watching the exciting mechanics of the move.
If you apply an engraving, even the most dear to your heart, it will kill the whole effect. You will simply deprive yourself of the main joy of acquiring a revolutionary tourbillon or a collection chronograph. In addition, the inscription runs the risk of merging with the caliber, because due to the glass, it is in full view.
Choose a classic font
Of course, engraving is an element of customization that encourages self-expression. I would like to choose something original, catchy, memorable. But with engraving, as with a haircut: mohawks at 18 are unlikely to seduce you at 40. Of course, who knows, but we still offer you to be on the safe side!
When choosing a font for an inscription on a watch, limit yourself to the classics. Something simple and elegant, which even decades later will delight the eye, tired of every second trends.
Do not make insignificant inscriptions
When choosing engraving, especially on very expensive watches, think about the fact that one day they will become part of your heritage. Maybe you want to dedicate the inscription to the best vacation of the year, but the engraving of "Maldives-2020" will hardly mean anything to your great-grandchildren, who will one day take the watch of the legendary ancestor in awe.
Limit yourself, for example, to a laconic motto that reflects your position in life. It is possible to integrate a monogram into the engraving or, if there is one, the coat of arms of the family. Actually, for the sake of such a case, you can claim it in the Heraldic Chamber or order it, if you are the first of, say, the Rothschild family and the heirs have to strengthen the position of the family.
Engrave significant dates
Before deciding on one or another engraving, make a list of possible ones. Discuss it with family or friends. Remember: engraving on an expensive watch is hard to fix! Just like getting rid of a tattoo done in a passionate rush.
If by engraving on a watch you want to mark a milestone in a love union, do not slip into banality: the image in the form of hearts, doves, all these "mi-mi-mi" look ridiculous on a watch that costs half an apartment. You can choose as simple as it is intriguing option: just a date, just a few numbers, the meaning of which only you two will know. Acquaintance, engagement, the first quarrel (well, you never know) - it's easy to find a reason.
In addition, if one day the relationship goes wrong, you will not have to grind your teeth, each time bumping into adoring doves. And the date? Well, what a date. You can always remember that somewhere a day earlier, a day later, you made your first million, or the first time you did everything on Ironman.
Do not engrave if you intend to resell the watch
Rolex, owned by Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando and Paul Newman, were recently auctioned off. For them, they rescued 1, 2 and 17 million, respectively. But if you are not a star and are going to sell your watch with an original engraving one day, be prepared for the fact that you have to lose in price. Personal inscriptions even on the most expensive and rare watches add value to them only in the eyes of the owner, for whom these inscriptions mean something. If the prospect of an auction looms in the future, hold on to the last - do not engrave! Unless you're going to be famous up to this point.
Engraving not on the watch case, but on the clasp
If you're so anxious to make a statement, do it! But, so to speak, in an undertone. You can not engrave on the back of the watch, from where it is incredibly difficult to remove. We suggest using the clasp that is made on steel bracelets. It is wide and flat enough.
Firstly, if you get bored or the engraving loses its relevance (sometimes), the clasp is easy to replace. And now the annoyingly expensive (expensive in every sense: you need to lay a budget for exclusive engraving) memories are gone! Secondly, it will make it easier for you to demonstrate it, because unlike the back cover of the watch, which is adjacent to the hand, the clasp is always in sight, you just need to shake it with your wrist. What is called hand engraving.
