The Caseback Might Be the Best Part

Nobody Ever Asks to See the Back

Think about it.

Someone notices your watch. They say, "Nice watch."

You turn your wrist, show them the dial, maybe explain the movement if they look sufficiently interested. Most people don't, but I generally explain it anyway.

And that's usually where the conversation ends.

Nobody says, "Beautiful watch. Mind if I inspect the caseback?"

Which is a shame. Because sometimes that's where the good stuff is.

Four Words Can Tell a Pretty Good Story

I've been working on a custom watch intended as a 25th wedding anniversary gift. Well, I think their trip to Greece is the gift, the watch is a special piece to commemorate the trip. 

Twenty-five years. That's a long time to spend with one person. 

The watch itself is beautiful. A turquoise stone dial, a gold case, and a design that feels right at home somewhere along the Mediterranean. Makes sense, since they are going to Greece. 

But what makes a watch like this special isn't necessarily the dial.

It's the thought that goes into making it mean something.

A date. A place. A few words that might mean absolutely nothing to the rest of the world, but everything to the person wearing it.

You can buy a very expensive watch and get the same engraving that thousands of other people have.

Or you can make something that belongs to one person. I happen to prefer the second option.

The Part Nobody Else Needs to Understand

That's what I like about engraving a caseback.

It doesn't have to impress anyone.

It can be a wedding date. The coordinates of a favorite place. Your children's initials. A line from a song. An inside joke that would require fifteen minutes of explanation and still wouldn't be particularly funny to anyone else.

Actually, those might be my favorite.

Not everything needs to be understood by the general public.

Some things are better when they're just yours.

Watches Are Pretty Good at Holding Memories

A watch tells time. That's its job.

And frankly, your phone does it better. It even adjusts itself when daylight saving time rolls around, which is more than I can say for most of my watches.

But a watch can do something a phone doesn't do particularly well.

It can become an heirloom.

Something you wore on your wedding day. Something you bought when your first child was born. Something you give to your daughter when she turns eighteen.

Years later, the watch might have a scratch or two. The bracelet might be worn. The leather strap might need replacing.

But turn it over, and there it is.

A little reminder of why that watch existed in the first place.

And unlike most things we buy, that's a pretty good reason to hold onto it.

Your Story. Not Mine.

When I started JMR, I named it after the middle names of my three daughters.

That story means a lot to me.

But here's the thing.

It doesn't have to mean anything to you.

The whole point of JMR Custom Work is to build something that tells your story, not mine. Or the story of some enormous watch company whose founder has been dead for a century.

Maybe your story calls for a bright turquoise dial. Maybe it calls for something understated. Maybe it calls for an engraving that makes absolutely no sense to anyone but your spouse.

That's perfectly fine.

Actually, that's kind of the point.

The dial is what everyone else sees.

The caseback is what makes it yours.

What's Your Story?

Have an idea for a watch? A special occasion, a meaningful gift, or just something you've always wanted to wear? Let's make something that's yours.