Watch-Glossary
Welcome to the Glossary section of "The Watch guide" Browse through to learn all the important terms associated with watchmaking and understand your timepiece better!
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Alarm
What Is An Alarm Function In A Watch? While alarm clocks are a common occurrence, it’s n...
Altimeter
What is altimeter in a watch? One of the most useful features in a watch for an outdoor en...
Analogue Watch
What is an analogue watch? According to the dictionary definition, ‘an analogue watch is...
Automatic Movement
An automatic or self winding movement is a mechanical watch movement that is wound by the ...
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Balance Wheel
What is a balance wheel in a watch? A balance wheel (also known as balance), is a device, ...
Bezel
What Is A Bezel On A Watch? The first inference to the term ‘bezel’ can be traced back...
Bidirectional rotating bezel
A bezel that can be rotated in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction and is used to ...
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Calibre Watch
A Calibre or Caliber is used as a reference to the manufacturer’s movements. The specif...
Case
What Is The Case in A Watch? A watch case is the sturdy metal outer shell that contains th...
Ceramic
Ceramic or often called high-tec ceramic is a material used to make watches (can include c...
Chronograph Watch
A chronograph is watch that includes stopwatch functionality while also showing the time l...
Chronometer
What is a chronometer? The pursuit of accuracy in timekeeping has been going on since cent...
Clasp
What Is A Clasp On A Watch? A watch clasp or buckle come attached to the two ends of a str...
Co-Axial Escapement
Considered to be one of the most significant achievements in the world of horology, the Co...
Complications
What Are Watch Complications? Understood typically as watch functions, watch complications...
COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres)
What Is COSC In Watchmaking? The Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) is a S...
Countdown Timer
Perfect for athletes, a countdown timer watch allows you time a particular event backward....
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Dial
What Is A Dial On A Watch? A watch dial is the main frame of the timekeeper that displays ...
Digital Display
A digital display is one that shows information in the form of characters, as opposed to h...
Dual Time
What Is A Dual-Time Watch? The term is quite self-explanatory. A dual-time watch is a devi...
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Escapement
What is a watch escapement and what does it do? An escapement is a mechanism inside a mech...
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Flyback Chronograph
A flyback chronograph is a complication which enables one to measure lap times effectively...
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Hairspring
What is a hairspring in a watch? A hairspring also known as the balance spring is the extr...
Helium Escape Valve
Found in professional diving watches, a helium escape valve is fitted with the purpose of ...
Horology
What Is The Meaning Of Horology? In both Latin and Ancient Greek, the term horology is the...
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Know Them Like The Back Of Your Hand: The Most Popular Watch Hands…Explained
The hands of a timepiece have the most important job—they point to the time. And yet, ae...
Know Your Watch Straps: The Most Commonly Used Materials
When we talk about watches, there are certain features that we describe first—everything...
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Moon Phase
What Is A Moon Phase Watch? The moon phase complication is not mere dial decoration. A moo...
Mother-Of-Pearl
What Is A Mother of Pearl Watch Dial? Mother-of-pearl, known as nacre—an original 14th-c...
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Perpetual Calendar
What is a perpetual calendar? A perpetual calendar is a complication in a watch which disp...
Power Reserve
What is power reserve on a watch? Power reserve on a watch is a feature that is showcased ...
Precision Rules: 10 Of The Finest Certified Chronometer Watches
What Is A Chronometer? It’s quite bizarre that a frequently asked question about watches...
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Retrograde Dial
A Retrograde Dial displays a function in a linear fashion, as opposed to a circular fashio...
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Sapphire Crystal
What Is Sapphire Crystal On A Watch? Sapphire crystal is a type of watch glass, a transpar...
Screw Down Crown
Available in diving watches, a screw down crown is a special feature which aids in water r...
Simplifying The World Of Watches: The Watch Guide Answers All Your Questions On Horology
When you begin reading about watches and developing a keen interest in the art of watchmak...
Skeleton Dial
A Skeleton dial watch is where all the moving parts are visible through the front on the d...
Standard Time
What Is The Meaning Of Standard Time? Standard time is the established uniform or civil ti...
Stopwatch
What Is A Stopwatch? A stopwatch function in mechanical watches is used for calculating el...
Sub-dial
What Is A Sub-Dial On A Watch? A sub-dial is a miniature or auxiliary dial located on the ...
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Tachymeter
What is a tachymeter? A tachymeter is a function in a watch that allows one to measure ave...
Time Zone
What Is Time Zone? A time zone is a standard time allocated to a region, approximately 15 ...
Tourbillon
According to the watch glossary of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (or FHH), a tourbi...
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Unidirectional Bezel
Found in diving watches, the unidirectional rotating bezel is a unique feature that helps ...
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Watch Lug
What is a watch lug? Perhaps one of the most underrated elements found on a watch, lugs ar...
Watch Movement
What is a watch movement? The most integral part of a watch—a movement also known as cal...
What Are Quartz Watches And What Is A Quartz Movement—A Guide To Quartz Movements
What Are Quartz Watches? Quartz watches use an electronic oscillator regulated by a quartz...
World Timer
A watch with a world timer function displays times of up to 24 time zones around the globe...