Crown guard

Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 with crown guards (click to enlarge!)
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 with crown guards

A crown guard is an extension to the case of a watch to protect the crown from impacts.

Crown guards were added to dive watches and other tool watches in the late 1950s. They are also sometimes referred to as “shoulders” or “horns”.

Most crown guards are simple protrusions, though some watches feature a crown integrated entirely into the body of the watch.