Historical information

Watches and wristwatches have a glass over the watch face to protect the internal parts, the face and the moving hands from damage.

The watch glasses are made in a range of diameters and heights according to the individual watch.

A jeweler usually keeps a wide range of glass sizes and sometimes different materials depending on the purpose of the watch e.g. as a fashion accessory or a robust timekeeping piece.

The glasses in these boxes have tissue paper between them and most have a label identifying their sizes.

Significance

These watch glasses are an example of the stock items a watchmaker or jeweler would need to have on hand to service his customer's timepieces. Today's jewelers follow this example to be able to quickly attend to their customer's needs.

Physical description

Three boxes of watch glasses. The collection of circular, slightly domed, clear thin glasses includes different sizes to suit different watches and wristwatches. Many of the glasses have a protective paper on them that also has a printed size.
(.1) small glasses in a "Country Life" cigarette tin
(.2) medium glasses in a "Jewelex" cardboard box and
(.3) large glasses in an open faded blue cardboard box.

Inscriptions & markings

Protective papers with various sizes and codes