Basic elements › Materials › Organic materials

WOOD

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2. General Description

Wood is a natural organic material that has been used in watchmaking since its origins, mainly for peripheral applications such as the making of clock cases, tooling, and certain finishing operations. Although its structural use in movements is now non-existent, it retains an important role in artisanal processes, particularly for Polishing and the handling of delicate components.

Its soft, non-abrasive, and easily machinable nature makes it an indispensable complementary material in certain traditional techniques.

3. Types of wood used in watchmaking

Wood for Polishing (major technical use)

Certain specific woods are used for very precise finishing operations:

Boxwood

Cheville de buis

• Bois très dense et homogène
• Grain fin
• Excellente tenue

👉 Utilisé pour :

• anglage
• polissage manuel
• supports de pâte abrasive

Moelle de sureau

• Very soft and fibrous structure
• Very low abrasiveness

👉 Used for:

• cleaning of pivots
• Polishing very fine
• removal of impurities

Gentian

Gentian bark

• Fibrous and slightly abrasive Wood
• Good capacity to retain pastes

👉 Used for:

• Polishing of steels
• fine finishes

Wood for tooling

Wood is used to make:

• Tool handles
• Part holders
• holding elements

Hardwood species are generally used (Boxwood, beech and formerly ebony)

Advantages:

• Good grip
• Thermal insulation
• Vibration absorption

Wood in external parts (case, dial, hands) (historical use)

Clock cabinets

• Noble woods (oak, walnut, mahogany)
• Manufacture of clock cases
• Both an aesthetic and structural function

Wood in contemporary watchmaking (anecdotal use)

• Dials in marquetry
• Cases

Hardwood species with different colors and shades are generally used

👉 Rare and mainly decorative use.

4. Watchmaking Applications

Wood is used for:

Finishing and Polishing

• Beveling / Angling manual
• Polishing of pivots
• Cleaning of components

Tools

• Handles
• Supports / stands
• Tweezers
• Auxiliary tools

External parts (case, dial, hands) (historical and decorative)

• Clock cases
• Dials in marquetry (rare)

5. Advantages and limitations

Advantages

• Soft and non-abrasive material
• Ease of shaping
• Low cost
• Vibration absorption
• Versatility
• Natural material

Limitations

• Sensitivity to moisture
• Rapid wear
• Properties varying by species
• Low mechanical strength
• Use limited to non-structural functions