I recently sold an 18k watch on eBay. After receiving the watch, the buyer wrote me to say that he was very happy with it, happy with the price, and would keep it, but that the case wasn't "solid gold", as I had said in my listing, because there was what I would call a brass "spreading ring" around the movement. So, here is my question: Are such rings considered part of the case, such that my description was misleading? Are such rings ever solid gold? By way of example, I am attaching a photo of what I would call a solid gold-cased IWC.

Hello Ethan, my logic says NO the ring is not part of the case as the stem is not part of the case when thinking of material composition....same thing with case springs, etc etc....

I wonder if eBay has a requirement policy that describes their definition....

That's my take, anyway....

Regards,

Jerry

I agree with Jerry . . . the customary definition, that the case consists of front cover, bezel, frame, cuvette, back cover, pendant, hinges and bow is adequate here.

Other parts of the watch, like the stem, dust ring, spreading ring, case springs and winding crown are add-ons that are not considered integral parts of the case and will not be solid gold, even in a "solid gold" watch.

This is my 14k Chronometre Novo,also with a brass upsizing ring around the movement, I always assumed it was a way to use a smaller movement in a larger case On the other hand , I suppose it would also give the watch a heavier feel, and it appears to be seldom found on heavy gold cases.