Crown guards
Also called crown guard
Crown guards are raised shoulders on the case on either side of the crown, protecting it from knocks.
Their shape is often specific to a reference or production period, which makes them useful when judging whether a case is correct and original. Heavy polishing can soften or change their profile.
Compare the crown guards with verified examples of the reference when you're assessing a collectible piece.
Some references were made with and without crown guards at different times, so the presence, absence, and shape of the guards can help place a case in the right production period. A case whose guards don't match its claimed period deserves a closer look.
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