A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A back to top
Alpha Hands : A slightly tapered hand
Analog Display : A display that shows the time by means of hands and a dial.
Analog Watch : A watch with a dial, hands, and numbers or markers that present a total display of 12-hour time span. Analog digital refers to a watch that has both a digital display and hands of a conventional watch
Automatic Movement : A mechanical movement that requires no winding because the rotor, part of the automatic mechanism, winds the mainspring every time you move your hand. When fully wound and left to sit, most automatics have up to 36 hours of reserve power. Mechanical movements are accurate within one minute each day. Automatic movements have gained in popularity the last few years especially with watch connoisseurs and are considered to be Switzerland's mechanical answer to the popularity of the no-winding-needed quartz movements that are standard in Japanese watches.
Auto Repeat Countdown Timer : A countdown timer that resets itself as soon as the preset time has elapsed and starts the countdown again. It repeats the countdown continuously until the wearer pushes the stop button.
Automatic Watch : A watch whose mainspring is wound by the movements or accelerations of the wearer's arm. On the basis of the principle of terrestrial attraction, a rotor turns and transmits its energy to the spring by means of an appropriate mechanism.
Automatic Winding : (also called "self-winding") Winding that occurs through the motion of the wearer's arm rather than through turning the winding stem. It works by means of a rotor that turns in response to motion, thereby winding up the watch's mainspring. An automatic watch that is not worn for a day or two will wind down and need to be wound by hand to get it started again.
B back to top Balance Spring : A very fine spring (also called a "hair spring") in a mechanical watch that returns the balance wheel back to a neutral position.
Balance Wheel : The part of a mechanical watch movement that oscillates, dividing time into equal segments.
Barrel : Thin cylindrical box containing the mainspring of a watch. The toothed rim of the barrel drives the train.
Baton Hands : A narrow hand sometimes referred to as a stick hand.
Battery Reserve Indicator : See "power reserve indicator".
Bezel : The ring, usually made of gold, gold plate or steel, that surrounds the watch face.
Bi-directional Rotating Bezel : A bezel that can be moved either clockwise or counterclockwise. These are used for mathematical calculations or for keeping track of elapsed time.
Bracelet : A type of watchband made of elements that resemble links.
Bridge : Complementary part fixed to the main plate to form the frame of a watch movement. The other parts are mounted inside the frame.
C back to top Cabochon : Decorative stone which has been carved into a round shape.
Calendar : A feature that shows the day of the month, and often the day of the week and the year. There are several types of calendar watches.
Caliber : A term often used by Swiss watchmakers to denote a particular model type, such as Caliber 48 meaning model 48. More commonly, the term is used to indicate the movement's shape, layout, or size.
Cambered: Often used in referring to a curved or arched dial or bezel.
Case : The metal housing of a watch's parts. Stainless steel is the most typical metal used but titanium, gold, silver, and platinum can also be used. Less expensive watches are usually made of brass and plated with gold or silver.
Caseback : The reverse side of a watchcase that lies against the skin. May be transparent to allow viewing of the inner workings of the watch or be solid. Most manufacturers engrave casebacks with their name, water and shock resistance, case metal content and other details.
Chime : The bell-like sound made when a clock strikes on the hour, half hour, etc
Chronograph : A stopwatch, i.e., a timer that can be started and stopped to time an event. There are many variations on the chronograph. Some operate with a center seconds hand, which keeps time on the watch's main dial. Others use subdials to elapse hours, minutes and seconds. Still others show elapsed time on a digital display on the watch face. When a chronograph is used in conjunction with specialized scales on the watch face, it can perform many different functions, such as determining speed or distance. Some chronographs can time more than one event at a time. Do not confuse the term "chronograph" with "chronometer". The latter refers to a timepiece, which may or may not have a chronograph function, that has met certain high standards of accuracy set by an official watch institute in Switzerland. Watches that include the chronograph function are themselves called "chronographs".
Chronometer : This term refers to a precision watch that is tested in various temperatures and positions, thus meeting the accuracy standards set by an official institute in Switzerland. Most watch companies provide a certificate with your chronometer purchase.
Complication: A watch with other functions besides timekeeping. For example, a chronograph is a watch complication. Other complications coveted by watch collectors include: minute repeater, tourbillion, perpetual calendar, or split second chronograph.
COSC : The official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute that puts every chronometer watch through a rigorous, 15-day testing procedure to verify the watch's precision.
Countdown Timer : A function that lets the wearer keep track of how much of a pre-set period of time has elapsed. Some countdown timers sound a warning signal a few seconds before time runs out -- these are useful in events such as yacht races, where the sailor must maneuver the boat into position before the start of a race.
Crown : Button on the outside of the case that is used to set the time and the calendar, and, in the mechanical watches, to wind the mainspring.
Crystal : The transparent cover on the watch face made of glass crystal, synthetic sapphire or plastic.
D back to top Dauphine Hands : A wide, tapered hand with a facet at the center running the length of the hand.
Day/Date Watch : A watch that indicates not only the date but also the day of the week.
Day/Night Indicator : A colored or shaded band on a world time that shows which time zones are in daylight and which in darkness.
Deployment Buckle : A type of buckle that pops open and fastens using hinged, often adjustable, extenders. Though more expensive than a belt-buckle like closure, a deployment buckle is easier to put on and remove and is more comfortable on the wrist.
Depth Alarm : An alarm on a diver's watch that sounds when the wearer exceeds a pre-set depth. In most watches it stops sounding when the diver ascends above that depth.
Dial : The watch face. In high-end watches the numerals, indices and surface designs are applied as separate elements. In less expensive watches, they may be simply printed on the dial.
Diver's Watch : Divers' watches traditionally feature a graduated, rotating bezel, screw down winding crown and caseback
must be water resistant to at least 200 meters or- 660 feet
Digital watch : A watch that shows the time through digits rather than through a dial and hands display.
Dual Timer : A watch that measures current local time as well as at least one other time zone. The additional time element may come from a twin dial, extra hand, subdials, or other means.
E back to top Elapsed Time Rotating Bezel : A graduated rotating bezel used to keep track of periods of time. The bezel can be turned so the wearer can align the zero on the bezel with the watch's seconds or minutes hand. He/she can then read the elapsed time off the bezel. This saves him/her having to perform the subtraction that would be necessary if he used the watch's regular dial.
Engine Turning : Decorative engraving, usually on the watch face.
Escapement : Device in a mechanical movement that controls the rotation of the wheels and thus the motion of the hands.
ETA : One of the leading manufacturers of watch movements based in Switzerland. ETA movements are used by many major Swiss watch brands.
F back to top Face : The visible side of the watch where the dial is contained. Most faces are marked with Arabic or Roman numerals to indicate the hours. Interestingly, when Roman numerals are used, it is traditional to use IIII, rather than IV, to indicate the 4 o'clock position.
Flyback hand : A seconds hand on the chronograph that can be used to time laps or to determine finishing times for several competitors in race.
G back to top Gasket : Most water resistant watches are equipped with gaskets to seal the case back, crystal, and crown to protect against water infiltration during normal wear. It is important to have the gaskets checked every two years to maintain the water resistance of the watch.
Gear Train : The system of gears which transmits power from the mainspring to the escapement.
Gold plating : A layer of gold that has been electro-deposited onto a metal; its thickness is measured in microns.
Grande Sonnerie : A type of repeater that sounds the hours and quarter hours when the wearer pushes the button
Guilloche : A style of intricate engraving that is popular on watch dials, usually very thin lines interwoven to create a surface texture.
H back to top Hands : The pointing device anchored at the center and circling around the dial indicating hours, minutes, seconds and any other special features of the watch.
Alpha Hands: A slightly tapered hand.
Baton Hands: A narrow hand sometimes referred to as a stick hand.
Dauphine Hands: A wide, tapered hand with a facet at the center running the length of the hand.
Luminous Hands: Hands made of skeleton form with the opening filled by a luminous material.
Skeleton Hands: Cut-out hands showing only the frame.
