Passions Watch Exchange

One or more features added to a watch in addition to its usual time-telling functions, which normally not only include the hours, minutes and seconds but also date and often the day of the week as well. Complications such as; perpetual calendars, moonphase displays, alarms, repeating mechanisms, quarter strikes as well as stop/start chronograph functions. Power reserve indicators are also usually regarded as 'complications'

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 which in turn, moves the hands of the watch to tell time.

A screw in (or screw down/lock) 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. This system was first patented by Rolex in the early 20th Century.

 

The Deployant Buckle or Invisible Double-Locking Clasp is also known as the Hidden Deployant Buckle or Butterfly Clasp, because, when closed, the clasp is essentially invisible and it opens symmetrically like a butterfly. This is perhaps one of the most common clasps available and most preferred by customers because the clasp is not a distraction from the watch itself. The clasp is opened by pulling the joined ends of the bracelet away from the wrist. These clasps also come on some of the leather and other non-metal strapped watches.

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), the standard for all international time.

A type of engraving in which thin (often hand machined) lines are interwoven in a pattern to form a design or artwork. This term is used on the dials of watches.

 

A watch which can tell the time, at the push of a button or move of a small slide on the side of the case, by striking the hours, quarter hours and minutes on small goings inside the watch. Such complex watches are very expensive.

A graphic display by means of a specially shaped aperture in the dial to indicate the phase of the moon, i.e. full, new or somewhere in between. It is often represented by a blue disc with gold print of the moon & rotates underneath the dial, showing partial to full moon on the 15th lunar day.

 

One of the rarest and also strongest of the precious metals. It is represented with the no. 950 & often hallmarked with a goat's head.

A feature that shows when the watch will soon need a new battery or winding. For mechanical watches, this shows how many hours of reserve is left in the mainspring informing you to wind up the watch by winding the crown for manual winding movt & wearing it for automatic movt. 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.

A watch that indicates hours with a note or tone by pressing of a button or push of the slide on the side of the case. See minute repeater.

 

A crystal made of synthetic sapphire, a transparent, shatter-resistant, scratch-resistant substance. However, if subjected to forced contact from hard objects, the crystal will get scratched & chipped or even crack when it hits a hard surface. Eg. dropping your watch on a hard ground. Otherwise, it can last for many years.

 

Represented by the sign Ti. It is a silver-gray "space age" metal that is both stronger and lighter than steel. It is anti-allergy & resists rust. It is roughly one-third the weight of steel.

 

Invented by Abraham Louis Breguet some 2 centuries ago. Often cited as the most significant development in watch history, this consists of the regulating mechanism (balance wheel with hairspring) and the lever escapement, which makes one revolution in one minute. It eliminates effects of friction and earth's gravity. Therefore, giving a more accurate time.

 

The ability to withstand splashes of water. Terms such as "water resistant to 50 meters (5 ATM)" or "water resistant to 200 meters (20 ATM)" indicate that the watch can be worn underwater to various depths. However, watches with the term 3 ATM or 30m are not suitable for diving or even swimming.

 

Also called a stem or pin, it is a tiny metal rod with screw thread that holds the crown & connects it to the movement of the watch. It is then used to set time & winding of the mainspring. You must take extra care when setting time or winding up your watch. Always remove your watch from your wrist to adjust the crown or there are chances that the winding stem will be snapped if you subject it to abnormal pressure.