Analog Watch: A watch that displays the time by using hands and markers or static numbers on a dial

Analog-Digital Display: A watch that combines both Analog and Digital methods to display time

Automatic Movement: 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. The system was invented in Switzerland by Abraham-Louis Perrelet in the 18th century.

Bezel: The ring that surrounds the face or dial of the watch. Sometimes it is used to hold the crystal in place, or to function as an over-edge to protect it. Most sport watches have an elevated bezel in order to take any impact before the crystal does. Ornamental or jewellery watches display precious stones on it and / or have a bezel made of precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, etc.

Bidirectional Rotating Bezel: A bezel that can be moved either clockwise or counter clockwise. It is used to move functional landmarks in the edge of the watch intended to provide additional zones time, elapsed time, etc.
 

Built-in Illumination: Lighting on a watch dial that allows the wearer to read the time in the dark.

Calendar: A feature that shows the date, and often the day of the week. There are several types of calendar watches. Most calendar watches show the information digitally through an aperture on the watch face. Some chronograph watches show the information on sub-dials on the watch face.

Chronograph: A watch that includes a built in stopwatch function - 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 sub-dials to time elapsed hours, minutes and seconds. Still others show elapsed time on a digital display on the watch face. Some chronographs can be used as a lap timer (see "fly back hand" and "split seconds hand"). The accuracy of the stopwatch function will commonly vary from 1/5th second to 1/100th second depending on the chronograph. Some chronographs will measure elapsed time up to 24 hours. Watches that include the chronograph function are themselves called "chronographs." 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 (see "tachymeter" and "telemeter") 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.

Chronometer: Precision watch that meets high performance and accuracy criteria under a set of conditions determined by the C.O.S.C in Switzerland.

Clasp: System used to close and secure the bracelet around the wrist.

Countdown Timer: Function that provides information on the time elapsed. Useful in situations in which the occurrence of an event has to match a predetermined moment.
 

Crown: Also called a stem or pin, a crown is the button on the outside of the watch case that is used to set the time and date. In a mechanical watch the crown also winds the mainspring. In this case it is also called a "winding stem". A screw in (or screw down) crown is used to make a watch more water resistant. The crown actually screws into the case, dramatically increasing the water-tightness of the watch.

Crystal: The transparent cover on a watch face made of glass crystal, synthetic sapphire or plastic. Better watches often have a sapphire crystal which is highly resistant to scratching or shattering.

Day/Date Watch: A watch that displays the date and the day of the week.
 

Depth Sensor/depth Meter: A device on a divers' watch that determines the wearer's depth by measuring water pressure. It shows the depth either by analog hands and a scale on the watch face or through a digital display.

Dial: The face of the watch in which the information either numerical and or graphic is displayed.

Digital: A watch that displays the information using constantly changing numbers and or graphics usually in a Liquid Crystal Display.

Dual Time or Second Time Zone bezel: A rotating bezel which can be used to display a separate time zone by providing an additional set of numbers.

Dual Time: A watch capable of providing time and date of two different locations (or more) at the same time. It is useful for people who have to travel frequently.

Eco-drive: A name for a patented power mechanism found on some Citizen watches. This mechanism uses ordinary light to keep a rechargeable battery powered for watch operation. This technology is very sophisticated allowing some watch models to remain powered for up to 5 years in the dark. Watches with Eco-Drive technology will never need to have the battery replaced.
 

Fly back Hand: A seconds hand on a chronograph that can be used to time laps or to determine finishing times for several competitors in a race. Start the chronograph, putting both the fly back hand and the regular chronograph seconds hand in motion. To record a lap time or finishing time, stop the fly back hand. After recording the time, push a button and the hand will "fly back" to catch up with the constantly moving elapsed-time hand. Repeat the process to record as many lap times or finishing times as needed.

Gasket: A plastic, rubber, silastic or silicon ring that seals the interior of the watch providing protection against environmental conditions like dust, water, pressure, etc.

GMT Time zone: Greenwich Meridian Time

Jewels: Synthetic sapphires or rubies that act as bearings for gears in a mechanical watch. The jewels reduce friction to make the watch more accurate and longer lasting.

Kinetic: Refers to the Seiko line of Kinetic watches. This innovative technology has a quartz movement that does not use a battery. Movement of your wrist charges a very efficient capacitor which powers the quartz movement. Once the capacitor is fully charged, men's models will store energy for 7-14 days without being worn. Ladies models store energy for 3-7 days. Of course, if the watch is worn every day the capacitor is continually recharged. The watch alerts you to a low capacitor charge when the seconds hand starts to move in two second intervals.

LCD Display: Liquid Crystal Display. A method of displaying readings continuously, as on digital watches, portable computers, and calculators, using a liquid-crystal film, sealed between glass plates that changes its optical properties when a voltage is applied.
 

Lugs: Projections on a watch face to which the watch band or bracelet is attached.

Military Or 24-hour Time: When time is measured in 24-hour segments. To convert 12-hour time into 24-hour time, simply add 12 to any p.m. time. To convert 24-hour time into 12-hour time, subtract 12 from any time from 13 to 24.

Mineral Crystal: Very resistant form of glass used to protect the face of a watch. Though it is tougher than acrylic it is also more difficult to polish and less flexible (easier to chatter). It is inferior in terms of quality and resistance when compared with sapphire crystals.
 

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: How a watch keeps time. A mechanical watch uses a system consisting of balanced wheels powered by a spring to measure time, on the other hand a Quartz movement is an extremely accurate electronic movement utilizing the natural frequency of vibrations of a quartz crystal to regulate the operation of the watch.
 

Perpetual: A type of calendar that automatically adjusts for months of different lengths and indicates February 29 in each leap year.

Power Reserve Indicator: A feature that shows when the watch will soon need a new battery or winding. A battery reserve indicator on a quartz watch informs the wearer when the battery is low. Often this is indicated by the seconds hand moving at two or three-second intervals. Seiko's Kinetic watches are quartz watches that do not have a battery (see Kinetic). When a Seiko Kinetic needs to be wound, the seconds hand will also move in two second intervals.

Quartz Movement: A movement powered by a quartz crystal to. Quartz crystals are very accurate. They can be mass produced which makes them less expensive than most mechanical movements which require a higher degree craftsmanship.

Rotating Bezel: A bezel (the ring surrounding the watch face) that can be turned. Different types of rotating bezels perform different timekeeping and mathematical functions.

Sapphire Crystal: Sapphire is the usual name for transparent corundum (Aluminium oxide). Corundum is one of the hardest crystals known with a 9 over 10 in Moh’s comparative hardness scale. Sapphire is associated with the blue color but can have just a about any color. It is the first choice in most high quality watches. It is very resistant to scratch but, like most hard minerals, its lack of flexibility makes it vulnerable to chatter and very difficult to polish.
 

Screw Down Locking Crown: A crown which aids water resistance by sealing the crown against the case. The seal is achieved by the matching of a threaded pipe on the case with the crown's internal threads and gasketing while twisting the crown to lock it into place.

Shock Resistance: A watch's ability to resist the impact resulting of being dropped onto a wood floor from a height of three feet.
 

Slide Rule: A device, consisting of logarithmic or other scales on the outer edge of the watch face, that can be used to do mathematical calculations. One of the scales is marked on a rotating bezel, which can be slid against the stationary scale to make the calculations. Some watches have slide rules that allow specific calculations, such as for fuel consumption by an airplane or fuel weight.

Solar Powered: A watch capable of getting and storing energy by means of photocells. A watch that uses solar energy (from any light source) to power the quartz movement. The Citizen >Solar-Tech< models use this technology and provide a 180 day power reserve, so they are able to run continuously. For more information, click here to go to Citizens Internet Site.

Stainless Steel: An extremely durable metal alloy (chromium is a main ingredient) that is virtually immune to rust, discoloration, and corrosion; it can be highly polished, thus resembling a precious metal. Stainless steel is often used even on case backs on watches made of other metals and is the metal of choice used to make high quality watchcases and bracelets. It is also hypoallergenic because it doesn't contain nickel
 

Stopwatch: A watch with a seconds hand that measures intervals of time. When a stopwatch is incorporated into a standard watch, both the stopwatch function and the timepiece are referred to as a chronograph.

Sub-Dial: A small dial on a watch face used for any of several purposes, such as keeping track of elapsed minutes or hours on a chronograph or indicating the date.

Tachymeter: ("tack IM eh ter") A feature found on some chronograph watches, a tachymeter (also called a "tachometer") measures the speed at which the wearer has traveled over a measured distance.

Tank Watch: A rectangular watch designed by Louis Cartier. The bars along the sides of the watch were inspired by the tracks of tanks used in World War 1.

Telemeter: ("tel EH meh ter"): A telemeter determines the distance of an object from the observer by measuring how long it takes sound to travel that distance. Like a tachymeter (see "tachymeter"), it consists of a stopwatch, or chronograph, and a special scale, usually on the outermost edge of the watch face.

Titanium: Titanium is a lustrous silver-white metal. It is extremely strong and has low density which makes it incredibly light. It is very corrosion resistant and is unattacked by most acids, or by common salt solutions. Besides being used in your watch, this metal is utilized in aircraft and spacecraft construction and in naval ships, guided missiles, and lightweight armor plate for tanks.
 

Two-tone: A term use to indicate that a watch has both "silver" and "gold" tone color which may or may not be genuine gold or silver.

Unidirectional Rotating Bezel: An elapsed time rotating bezel (see "elapsed time rotating bezel"), often found on divers' watches, that moves only in a counterclockwise direction. It is designed to prevent a diver who has unwittingly knocked the bezel off its original position from overestimating his remaining air supply. Because the bezel moves in only one direction, the diver can err only on the side of safety when timing his dive. Many divers' watches are ratcheted, so that they lock into place for greater safety.

Water Resistance: The ability to withstand splashes of water. Terms such as "water resistant to 50 meters" or "water resistant to 200 meters" indicate that the watch can be worn underwater to various depths. (See "Water Resistant" below)

World Time Dial: A dial, usually on the outer edge of the watch face, that tells the time in up to 24 time zones around the world. The time zones are represented by the names of cities printed on the bezel or dial. The wearer reads the hour in a particular time zone by looking at the scale next to the city that the hour hand is pointing to. The minutes are read as normal. Watches with this feature are called "world timers."

Water Resistant

Water resistance terminology is somehow confusing and misleading. For example a watch marked as “Water resistant 100 feet”, could make you think that the watch will resist to be submerged down to 100 feet. Wrong!!
This mistake could cause the total loss of your timepiece. Actually, by convention “Water resistant 100 feet (30 meters)” means that it is only suitable to resist accidental splashes of water.
So, you are a person who needs a watch for swimming or even diving, what watch should you get? Here is a little list with the different categories for water resistance and the different units you could find.


• Water resistant 30 meters (100 feet / 3 ATM / 3 BAR). Resists accidental splashes of water but should not be worn while swimming or diving.

• Water resistant 50 meters (165 feet / 5 ATM / 5 BAR). Can be used while showering or swimming in shallow water.

• Water resistant 100 meters (330 feet / 10 ATM / 10 BAR). Suitable for swimming and snorkeling. Buttons should not be pressed underwater.

• Water resistant 150 meters (500 feet / 15 ATM / 15 BAR). Suitable for snorkeling. Buttons should not be used underwater.

• Water resistant 200 meters (660 feet / 20 ATM / 20 BAR). Suitable for diving. Buttons can be used underwater in selected models.

• Diver's 150 meters (500 feet / 15 ATM / 15 BAR). Buttons can be used underwater. Compliant with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards for scuba diving.

• Diver's 200 meters (660 feet / 20 ATM / 20 BAR). Buttons can be used underwater. Compliant with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards for scuba diving.

Now, even having the proper watch has its limitations. First, remember that the rubber seals are not eternal. They can and will lose elasticity (property of returning to its former shape after being deformed) with time. So it is a good idea to have them checked and if needed replaced each time you replace your watch’s batteries, or each three to four years. Second, rubber seals can be harmed by extreme temperatures and even more by sudden changes in temperature. For example: jumping from a hot sauna to a pool is not a good idea. Remember that all materials change their volume (space they fill) with temperature. With the exception of water all materials expand with heat and contract with cold. This change in volume can compromise the performance of your watch’s seals. Also, deposits of sand or dust between the rubber seals and the watch’s case may leave open “channels” for water to leak in. So it is a good idea to rinse your watch with fresh and clean water after use in salt water or in extremely dusty conditions.

This information is not intended to replace the specifications and recommendation found in your watch’s owner’s manual; take some time to read it carefully and enjoy your watch for many years.
 

Battery Life.

Battery life specifications are based on minimum usage of your watch. This means, displaying the basic information you see in the screen or face when not pressing any button. When you use the alarm, light or any other function of your watch you are consuming additional energy, and hence, cutting down the life of your battery.

Remember also that even when your watch is brand new, some of them have being functioning for a couple of years in the manufacturers or retailer warehouse. This is true especially for some models that take some time to be introduced in America

Exposure to very low or high temperatures can also impair the performance of your battery. Take this in consideration if you like winter sports or scuba diving. Never leave your watch exposed to direct sun light for prolonged periods of time, for example in your car’s dash, etc. You would be amazed of the temperatures that can be reached inside the watch!!
 

Choosing the watch for you

There are many factors that you should take in consideration before buying a watch, for example durability, care and maintenance, probable use, environmental conditions you are planning to expose the watch to, etc. Read this brief guide to get some hints on what are the best features you need to combine in your next watch.

Belt or Bracelet?

Leather: comfortable and elegant; very light weight; lots of colors and textures to choose from. Their durability is short when compared to metal bands or bracelets and they require proper care and maintenance. When wearing a leather band watch do not forget to match its color with the rest of your clothes just the way you do with belts and shoes. Underwater use may limit its life and change its appearance.

Stainless steel: most elegant or formal watches today are made of stainless steel. This material is extremely resistant to use and abuse and when properly cared keep its neat look throughout the years. It is the heaviest of all materials used in watches manufacturing (except for gold). Though it can be used underwater it is not the most recommended for diving or other open water activities where its shine can attract curious animals.

Titanium: the toughest material used in watches manufacturing. It is lighter than steel; not so shiny but equally elegant. Does suffer corrosion in salt water. This set of characteristics makes it suitable for almost any use or condition. It is the most expensive of all base materials used in watches, except for gold.

Rubber: resistant, flexible. Definitely your best choice for a sports watch. Will not hurt your wrist in extreme sports where you can be accidentally pulled by your watch. Is not durable but is inexpensive when it comes to replace it.

Case?

When choosing your case, besides the way it looks, remember to consider two important things:

Material: Most watches are made of steel or titanium, some are covered with rubber or other shock absorbent material (recommended in sports watches). As described above, Titanium is extremely light and resistant.

Crystal: There are three different types of crystal used to cover the face in watches:

• Sapphire: the most expensive but also more resistant to scratch and abuse.
• Mineral crystal: less expensive than sapphire but not so though.
• Acrylic: synthetic crystal. It is the least expensive of all but also very vulnerable to scratch, etc.

Remember that the hardest the crystal, the more difficult to polish it.

Watch Size?

The size of most, if not all, watches can be easily adjusted to fit just about anybody. The process is very easy to accomplish for all you need is to remove a couple of links from the chain. We recommend, though, taking your watch to a reputable watch dealer to have it adjusted and save the remaining links as a spare. You never know when they are going to be useful. Keep them in the box with the warranty.