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Why did enamelwork become popular for watch dials and watchcases after the 16th century?

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Samson killing Philistines — Enamelwork Standing dish depicting Samson crushing the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, enamel on copper by Pierre Courteys, c. 1580; in the Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati, Ohio. Height 9.8 cm, diameter 22.9 cm.

Enamelwork became a popular choice for watch dials and cases after the 16th century primarily due to the invention of a highly skillful method for fine miniature painting in enamel colors on a white-enamel ground, developed around 1620–1630 by the French goldsmith Jean I Toutin and other craftsmen in Blois.1

This technique was perfectly suited to the era's widespread enthusiasm for portrait miniatures, allowing artists to achieve a level of detail and artistic expression that made the medium highly desirable for personal items like watches. Furthermore, unlike paint on metal, which is prone to fading or darkening over time, enamel provides a durable, glossy, and permanent decorative finish that retains its brilliance. By the second half of the 17th century, this craft had become centered in Geneva, where it continued to flourish for generations.12