Form Watches The fi rst form watches appeared in the early 17th century, the cases modeled in cast and chased silver or gold as animals, fi sh and skulls. These exotic and expensive ?toys? enjoyed a revival during the last decade of the 18th century and the fi rst quarter of the 19th century, naturally the fi ne Swiss watchmakers and enamelers in Geneva made some of the best examples of this period. A large variety of shapes were made, fruit being a particular favorite. Exquisite gold, enamel and jeweled watches in the form of melons, cherries, peaches and strawberries were amongst the most popular. Fruit has a powerful symbolism. In China the apple represents peace, the cherry, fertility and the strawberry represents goodness and purity, the perfect gift for a lady who would have immediately understood the meaning. The strawberry was also considered to be the holy symbol of the Virgin Mary. Form watches were never made in large numbers and surviving examples, particularly with enameled and jeweled cases, are extremely rare.