Common Watch Terminology
14 Karat
The
Karat mark tells you that it is real gold and the percentage of pure gold in
the piece. All 14k pieces are 58.3% pure gold.
24-hour Indicator
Displays military time by sub-wheels or digital readout.
A
Alarm
A watch feature that sounds an alarm at pre-set time or at regular intervals.
Analog Digital
A watch that has both a digital display and hands of a conventional watch.
Usually featured on sport watch styles.
Automatic Movement
A movement that is all mechanical and requires no winding as this is done every
time you move your hand.
B
Baguette
Ladies style watch with a thin, elongated face; usually rectangular in shape
but may be oval.
Battery Life
The minimum period of time that a battery will continue to provide power to run
the watch. Life begins at the point of manufacture when the factory initially
installs the battery.
Bezel
The surface ring on the watch that surrounds and holds the crystal in
place. A sports or divers watch could
have a rotating bezel to be used as a timer.
Bracelet
A metal band consisting of links that can be removed to change the length of
the bracelet. Also could be a one-piece
expansion style bracelet that contains no buckle but fits over the wrist.
Brass
Copper and zinc alloy used to make the main plate and bridge wheels in the
movement.
Buckle
Usually matching the case, it attaches the two parts of the leather strap
around the wrist.
C
Calendar
A watch feature that shows the date and sometimes the day of the week and the
month.
Carat (Karat)
Unit of gold fineness (and gemstone weight). Pure gold is 24k. 18k gold is 75%
pure.
Case
The metal housing of a watch's parts. Stainless steel is the most typical metal
used but also titanium, gold, silver, and platinum can be used.
Case Back
The cover for the back of the watchcase that can be removed to access the watch
movement for service.
Chronograph
A multifunction sport watch with a stopwatch function. Most have two or three
sub dials, or minidials, for measuring minutes and hours.
Clasp
The attachment
used to connect the two ends of the watch bracelet or strap around the wrist.
Countdown Timer
Measures remaining time from preset period of time. (Example: Can be used to
countdown time of a basketball game.)
Crown
The ridged winding knob on the right side of the
case used to adjust the time, day and date.Most diving watches have a screw down crown, which must be unscrewed
before you can utilize it.
Crystal
The clear cover over the watch face. Several types of crystals are commonly
found in watches. It can be made of mineral, synthetic sapphire, plastic, or acrylic material. The
sapphire crystal is the most durable.
D
Day/date Watch
A watch that indicates not only the date but also the day of the week.
Dial
The watch face. The numerals, indices, or surface design are usually applied;
others have been printed on.
Digital
Any watch that shows the time in numbers instead of hands on the dial.
Digital Watch
A mechanical or solid-state watch in which the time shows through changes of
digits, rather than positions of hands on the dial.
Divers Watches
Diver's watches are designed and manufactured especially for divers whose lives depend on the reliability of their watch in the water.
Seiko and Pulsar diver's watches meet ISO (International
Standardization Organization) regulations. Diver's watches must meet various
standards regarding water resistancy, pressure resistancy, readability in the
water, time presetting function (rotating elapsed time bezel), anti-magnetic
ability, anti-shock, rust resistancy in salt water, manageability in water,
ability to withstand sudden temperature changes, etc.
F
Face
The visible side of the watch where the dial is contained, most are printed
with Arabic or Roman numerals.
G
Gaskets
A rubber type ring used as a seal against moisture and dust. Normally located in the case back, crown and
pushers.
Gold
Yellow precious metal, which is stainless and very malleable. Used in alloys to
make jewelry, bracelets and watches. The portion of gold in the alloy is
indicated in karats (k).
H
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.
Hourly Time Signal
Single beep/chime, which rings on the hour, every hour when it is engaged.
K
Kinetic
Based on a revolutionary technology, Seiko Kinetic® watches run
entirely on sell generated energy from natural movement of your wrist. It never
needs a battery.
Keeper
A small loop on the strap near the buckle. It
holds the strap end in place after the buckle has been fastened.
L
LCD
Liquid-crystal display. Digital time display.
LED
Light emitting diodes. Displays the
time in a red light.Found less
frequently these days.
Lighted dials
Several types of lighted dials are used so that you can tell time in the dark.
A side button activates the light. This technology often appears under a name
brand such as Timex' Indiglo or Seiko's LumiBrite.
Lugs
The metal holding located at the 6 and 12 o'clock position of the case. This is used to attach the band to the case
with pushpins.
M
Manual
A hand-wound mechanical watch. Wound by turning the crown back and forth until resistance is met.
Mother-of-Pearl
Iridescent, milky interior shell of the fresh water mollusk that is sliced thin
and used on watch dials. While most have a milky white luster, mother-of-pearl
also comes in other colors such as silvery gray, gray blue, pink, and salmon.
Movement
The inner workings or assembly that make up the main timekeeping mechanism.
Movements are either quartz or mechanical. This is the engine of the watch.
P
Perpetual
A type of calendar that automatically adjusts for months of different lengths
and indicates February 29 in each leap year.
Platinum
One of the rarest precious metals, platinum is also one of the strongest and
heaviest, making it a popular choice for setting gemstone jewelry and watches.
It has a rich, white luster, and an understated look. Platinum is
hypoallergenic and tarnish resistant. Platinum used in jewelry and watches is
at least 85 to 95 percent pure. Many platinum watches are produced in limited
editions due to the expense and rarity of the metal.
Pushers
Button located on the case of multifunction watches used to operate the special
functions.
Push Pins
Spring action pins that attach the band to the case lugs.
Q
Quartz Movement
Watch movement that is powered by a miniature battery, so
there is no need to wind the watch.
S
Shock Resistance
If shock resistance is specified on a watchcase, a watch can withstand normal
wear and tear, even during strenuous sport activities.
Solar-powered
A type of quartz movement where the batteries are recharged via solar panels on
the watch face. They have a power reserve so they can run even in the dark.
Stainless Steel
An extremely durable metal alloy that is virtually immune
to rust, discoloration, and corrosion; it can be highly polished, thus
resembling a precious metal. Because of its strength, stainless steel is often used
even on case backs on watches made of other metals.
Sterling Silver
A white and highly reflective precious metal. Sterling refers to silver that is
92.5 percent pure, which should be stamped on the metal, sometimes accompanied
by the initials of the designer or country of origin as a hallmark. Although
less durable than stainless steel and other precious metals, sterling silver is
often employed in watches that coordinate or look like sterling jewelry. A
protective coating may be added to prevent tarnish.
Strap
A watchband made of leather, plastic or fabric.
T
Titanium
The "space age" metal, often with a silvery-gray appearance. Because
it is 30 percent stronger and nearly 50 percent lighter than steel it has been
increasingly used in watch making, especially sport watch styles. Its
resistance to salt water corrosion makes it particularly useful in diver's
watches. Since it can be scratched fairly easily, some manufacturers use a
patented-coating to resist scratching.
W
Waterproof
An illegal and misused term: No watch is fully 100 percent waterproof.
Water Resistant
A watch bearing the inscription "water-resistant" on its case back
can handle light moisture, such as a rainstorm or sink splashes, but should not
be worn swimming or diving. If the watch can be submerged in water, it must
state at what depth it maintains water-resistance, i.e. 50 meters (165 feet) or
more on most sport watches. Below 200 meters, the watch may be used for skin
diving and even scuba diving depending upon the indicated depths.
Watches come in different water resistant depths and diver's depths:
·
Water resistant
Will withstand splashes of water or rain but
should not be worn while swimming or diving.
· Water tested to 50 meters (165 feet)Suitable for showering or swimming in shallow water.
· Water tested to 100 meters (330 feet)Suitable for swimming or snorkeling.
· Water tested to 150 meters (500 feet) Suitable for snorkeling.
· Water tested to 200 meters (660 feet)Suitable for skin diving.
·
Diver's to 150 meters
Meets ISO Standards and is suitable for scuba
diving.
·
Diver's to 200 meters
Meets ISO Standards and is suitable for scuba
diving.
White Gold
Created from yellow gold by incorporating either nickel or palladium to the
alloy to achieve a white color. Most watches made of white gold will be 18k.
Y
Yellow Gold
The traditionally popular gold used in all gold or gold and stainless steel or
other precious metal combinations. Yellow gold watches may be found in 14k or,
as found from most European manufacturers, 18k.
