Complete Guide to Watch Terms and Definitions
| Term | Function |
|---|---|
| Adjustment (or Regulation) | A feature that ensures the movement’s time is accurate by regulating its beats. The time may not run consistently when there’s a temperature changes or a position change, but the regulation feature speeds the beats up or slows them down when necessary. |
| Altimeter | A device that determines the height above sea level, also known as altitude, by responding to changes in barometric pressure. |
| Amplitude | Measures, in terms of degrees, the maximum angle in which a balance swings from its position of rest. The amplitude can change depending on the position of the watch, but if the amplitude is too high or too low, then it may indicate a problem with the watch’s movement. |
| Analog (Display and Watch) | An analog watch uses hands and a dial to show the time. |
| Annual Calendar | A calendar that automatically adjusts for the months’ varying lengths, but unlike perpetual calendars, annual calendars need to be reset every year. |
| Anti-Magnetic | The watch is not affected by magnetic fields. If the watch does become magnetized, it will often not keep accurate time, generally running slow. |
| Aperture | A small opening in the dial used to display information such as date, day, month, or moon phase. |
| Assembling | The process of putting together the components of a watch. Although this process used to be done by hand, it is largely done by machine. However, the inspection and testing is still done by hand. |
| Automatic Movement | A mechanical movement that is wound by everyday movements of the wearer. If an automatic watch isn’t worn for a few days, it will need to be wound to get started again. |
| Balance | Necessary for a mechanical watch, the balance is a wheel that rotates back and forth on an axle. The balance spring, also known as a hairspring, is a very fine spring that returns the balance wheel back to its neutral position. Then the balance wheel oscillates and divides time into equal portions. Without a well constructed balance, the watch will not be precise. |
| Balance Spring (or Hairspring) | The balance spring, also known as a hairspring, is a very fine spring that returns the balance wheel back to its neutral position. The spring’s elasticity ensures that the balance swings back and forth at a regular rate. |
| Barrel | A thin cylindrical box that holds the mainspring of a watch. |
| Bezel | The ring that surrounds the watch face and secures the glass or crystal covering the dial. Depending on the watch, the bezel can rotate to measure elapsed time or to indicate the time in a second time zone. |
| Bracelet | A bracelet is a type of watch band that often resembles links; a bracelet can be ceramic or metal. |
| Bridge | A flat, typically narrow metal plate that holds the rotating watch gears. Jewels may be fit into the bridge to hold rotating pivots of a moving part or parts. |
| Cabochon | A smooth gemstone which has been carved into a round shape. Cabochons are used mainly for decoration. |
| Calendar | A feature that shows the day of the month. Some watches will even show the day of the week and the year. |
| Caliber | Numbers or letters that are used to denote a particular watch movement. For example, Caliber 3135 describes Rolex’s self-winding mechanical movement. |
| Case | The metal housing of a watch’s internal parts or movements. The case can come in many different shapes, and it can be made out of a variety of materials such as stainless steel, gold, silver, titanium, platinum, and brass. |
| Caseback | The underside of a watch case that lies against the skin. Some casebacks are made transparent with a crystal cover which allows you to view the inner workings of the watch. |
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