Case Back Watch Engraving in Delhi
A few words on a case back turn a watch into a record of something. We engrave case backs for gifts, retirements, weddings and memorials, by hand at the bench, on watches brought to us across Delhi-NCR.
What people have engraved
Most of what we cut is short. A date. Two sets of initials. A line from a card. Retirement pieces usually carry the years of service and the name of the firm. Wedding watches take the date and the initials of the couple, often on the inside of the case back where only the owner sees it. Memorial engraving is often a single name and a date, and we treat it as the quiet job it is. Longer text works too, but the case back sets the limit.
Engraving and resale value
This part we will say plainly. On a collectible watch, an engraved case back can reduce what the piece fetches later. Collectors want an unmarked back, and the mark cannot be undone without removing metal and thinning the case. If you bring us something where that matters, we will tell you before the burin touches it, and we will offer the alternatives: engraving the inside of the case back, engraving a spare back, or engraving the clasp instead. If the watch is meant to stay in the family, none of this need stop you. It is your call, made with the facts.
Engraving a watch built for you
Our watchmakers also build watches to a customer's specification, and engraving belongs with that work rather than after it. Choose the case, the dial, the hands and the movement, then decide what goes on the back while the watch is still in pieces. A back that has not yet been fitted is flat on the bench and easier to cut cleanly than one already sealed to a case. The same applies to a case back we remove for service. Talk to us at the start and the engraving becomes part of the watch instead of an addition.
About watch engraving
Can engraving on a case back be removed later?
Not without cost. Taking out a cut means removing metal from the back and refinishing it, which thins the case and can leave a dished area you will see in the light. On a thin or plated back it may not be possible at all. Better to decide carefully at the start than to undo it later.
How much text fits on a case back?
It depends on the diameter of the back, whether it is flat or domed, and whether there is already factory text or a serial number to work around. Two or three short lines suit most watches. We lay the text out first and show it to you before cutting, so you can see the size and spacing.
Will you engrave a watch I did not buy from you?
Yes. Bring in the watch you already own, quartz, mechanical or vintage, luxury brands included. We check the case back first, since some are steel, some are plated and some are screwed down with a display window that cannot be cut. Call (+91) 8700956690 or write to timecare.contact@gmail.com and tell us what the watch is.
More questions are answered on the full FAQ page.
Not sure what it needs?
Send a photo on WhatsApp and we will tell you what is likely wrong and what it will cost. The estimate is free and you are under no obligation.
Other things we do
- Watch Repair From a stopped quartz movement to a mechanical calibre that needs stripping down, we repair every type of watch — luxury brands included.
- Watch Servicing & Overhaul A full service: the movement is dismantled, cleaned, lubricated, regulated and timed before it goes back on your wrist.
- Watch Battery Replacement A stopped watch is most often a flat cell. We fit the correct battery, check the gasket and reseal the case.
- Antique Clock Restoration Traditional techniques and traditional materials, so the clock keeps both its authenticity and its value. We come to you when a case should not travel.