Watches From AZ: A Fun Directory of All Things Watch-Related
December 24, 2010
Zone – One of 24 longitudinal divisions of the Earth surface, which are found on the bezels of Tag Heuer watches with world timers. Yellow Gold – The metal traditionally used in combination with other metals or stainless steel for watch casings. Xpensive – The nature of platinum watches, which have a luxurious white luster. Water Resistant – Watches that are unaffected by moisture up to a depth of 100 feet. Vibration – The movement of a timepiece pendulum, usually about five to ten per second in a mechanical watch. Unparalleled – The quality of Swiss watches, which will always have the “Swiss Made” designation inscribed on them. Titanium – Watches that are corrosion-resistant, hypoallergenic, and that can tolerate extreme temperatures. Self-Winding – Watches that wind themselves when the wrist is in motion. Rectangular – The shape of the face on a ladies baguette watch. Quartz – A crystal used in quartz analog or digital watches that vibrates at a high frequency for accurate timekeeping. Pocket Watch – A timepiece kept in the pocket that is usually attached to a vest or belt by a watch fob. Oscillation – Nurse Watch – A stainless steel watch with a red second hand. Mechanical Watch – A watch that operates through a set of gears powered by a spring, which must be wound. Luminous – The glowing paint used on the hands of the watch. K – The abbreviation for karat, a unit of measurement for gold used in watches and other fine jewelry; 24k is pure gold . Jewels – Small gemstones that are used in the moving parts of some mechanical watches. Integrated Bracelet – A watchband that is part of the case and, therefore, not detachable. Hands – The rotating pointer on a watch indicating hours, minutes, and seconds Gold Plating – A method used to give a watch the appearance of being gold, but at a fraction of the price. Fob – The watch chain that attaches to a vest or belt at one end and a pocket watch on the other. Escapement – Responsible for timekeeping accuracy, it is a mechanism in a mechanical watch. Digital – A watch that displays the time in numbers, rather than by a dial. Chronograph – Another name for a stopwatch. Bezel – The ring surrounding the dial of a watch that holds the crystal in place. Analog – A standard watch with dials, hands, and a 12-hour time span. Although you probably don give much thought to that timepiece on your wrist, watches date back to 15th century Italy. Wristwatches gained popularity in the first part of the 20th century, and by the late 1900s, they became less about timekeeping and more about fashion. Here a fun AZ directory of all things watch-related.