9114.40 - Plates and bridges:

The HTS code 9114.40 encompasses various plates and bridges specifically designed for use in clock and watch mechanisms. These components are foundational elements upon which the intricate workings of timekeeping devices are assembled. This category includes essential structural parts that support the gear train, balance wheel, and other critical moving parts, ensuring their proper alignment and function.

Differentiating this category from its siblings, 9114.30 covers dials, which are the visual displays showing the time, and 9114.90, which is a residual category for any other clock or watch parts not specifically enumerated elsewhere. Therefore, 9114.40 is exclusively concerned with the supporting structural plates and bridges that form the internal framework of a movement.

Subdivisions within 9114.40 further refine the classification based on the specific type and intended use of the plates. This includes distinct classifications for watch movement bottom or pillar plates (9114.40.20.00), which form the base of a watch movement, and plates suitable for assembling a clock movement (9114.40.40.00), highlighting differences in size and design pertinent to clocks versus watches. The residual "Other" subcategory captures any remaining plates and bridges not covered by these specific descriptions.