Glossary of Watch Terms
Finding your ideal private label or custom-made watch can be challenging due to the variety of terms used to describe watch features and components. This glossary provides definitions of the most common watch-related terms to help you navigate your customization journey.
- 12-hour-counter
- A subdial on a chronograph that records periods up to 12 hours.
- 30-minute-counter
- A subdial on a chronograph that records intervals of up to 30 minutes.
- Analogue Watch
- A traditional watch that displays time using hands, numbers, or indexes on a 12-hour dial, sometimes including day and date functions.
- Assembling
- The process of integrating all individual components to create a complete, functional timepiece.
- Automatic Movement
- A mechanical watch movement powered by the natural motion of the wrist. It includes a rotor that winds the mainspring automatically. Most have a power reserve of up to 40 hours.
- Battery
- A power source that generates electrical energy through chemical conversion to operate a quartz movement.
- Bezel
- A ring on the watch case that holds the crystal and often serves decorative or functional purposes.
- Bracelet
- A metal strap for a watch, typically composed of interlinked pieces.
- Calendar
- A complication that displays the date.
- Calibre
- A term referring to the size and design of the watch movement.
- Case
- The external housing of a watch, typically consisting of the bezel, main case body, and case back.
- Case Back
- The rear part of a watch case, which may be transparent or engraved with branding, numbers, or specifications.
- Chronograph
- A multifunction timepiece with stopwatch capability, allowing short-term time measurements independent of regular timekeeping.
- Cliché
- A metal block containing your logo used to print designs on dials via tampography.
- Counter
- A chronograph feature that tracks elapsed time, typically seconds, minutes, or hours.
- Crown
- The knob on the side of the watch used to set the time and date.
- Crystal
- The transparent cover over the dial, made from mineral glass, sapphire-coated mineral, or synthetic sapphire.
- Custom Made
- Watches built entirely according to your brand's specifications and identity.
- Date
- A numerical day display shown through an aperture on the dial.
- Day-Date-Indication
- Displays both the day of the week and the date.
- Dial
- The face of the watch showing time and any logos, indices, or additional complications.
- Digital Watch
- A timepiece displaying numbers via LCD or LED screens.
- E.O.L (End of Life indication)
- A feature in some quartz watches where the second hand jumps every four seconds when the battery is low.
- ETA
- A prominent Swiss manufacturer of watch movements.
- Etching
- A technique for engraving logos or text onto metal surfaces.
- Face
- Another term for the watch dial.
- Foldable Buckle
- A clasp that opens and closes with ease, often using pushers for added security.
- Fly-back Hand
- An additional chronograph hand that enables intermediate timing without halting the chronograph.
- Gasket
- Rubber or silicone seals that provide water resistance by protecting the crown, case back, and crystal joints.
- GMT
- A watch feature displaying a second time zone using a 24-hour format.
- Hand
- Movable indicators that show the time, adjusted via the crown.
- Hertz
- The unit of frequency; quartz watches typically oscillate at 32,768 Hz.
- Index
- Markers used in place of numerals on the watch dial.
- Integrated Bracelet
- A strap that is seamlessly built into the design of the case.
- Jewels
- Synthetic rubies or sapphires used in the movement to reduce friction and wear.
- Laser Engraving
- A precise method to customize watch components with logos or text using laser technology.
- Limited Editions
- Watches produced in a fixed quantity, often numbered for exclusivity.
- Lugs / Horns
- Extensions of the watch case where the strap or bracelet is attached.
- Lugs Width
- The measurement between lugs, determining the appropriate strap size.
- Mechanical Movement
- A watch movement powered solely by manual winding of the mainspring.
- Moonphase
- A complication that displays the current phase of the moon.
- Mother of Pearl
- Natural shell material used on dials, available in various iridescent colors.
- Movement
- The internal mechanism of a watch that powers all timekeeping functions.
- Opening
- A window on the dial displaying complications such as date or moonphase.
- Perpetual Calendar
- A calendar complication that adjusts automatically for leap years and varying month lengths.
- Personalization
- Customizing a watch with logos, names, or other brand-specific elements.
- Printing Block
- Tool used for dial tampography printing, typically engraved with a custom logo.
- Private Label Watches
- Watches produced by a manufacturer and branded by a third-party company.
- Pushers
- Buttons on chronographs used to control stopwatch functions.
- PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition)
- A process used to apply durable, decorative coatings to metal surfaces.
- Quartz Movement
- A highly accurate movement powered by a battery and regulated by a quartz crystal.
- Ronda
- A top Swiss watch movement producer, second only to ETA.
- Rotating Bezel (Turning Bezel)
- A bezel that spins, commonly used for timing functions.
- Rotor
- A semi-circular component in automatic watches that winds the mainspring through motion.
- Ruby/Jewels
- Synthetic stones used in movements to reduce wear.
- Sapphire Crystal
- A highly durable, scratch-resistant glass made from synthetic sapphire.
- Screw-down Crown
- A crown that can be screwed into the case to enhance water resistance.
- Sellita
- An independent Swiss manufacturer of automatic watch movements.
- Small Second Hand
- A subdial that tracks seconds.
- Split Seconds Hand
- Dual chronograph hands that allow timing of multiple events simultaneously.
- Stainless Steel 316L
- A corrosion-resistant alloy commonly used in watchmaking.
- Stainless Steel Finishings
- Various finishes such as brushed, satin, matte, or PVD-coated.
- Strap
- A band that secures the watch to the wrist, made from rubber, leather, textile, or metal.
- Superluminova
- A luminous material that glows in the dark, applied to hands and indexes.
- Sweep Second Hand
- A central second hand that moves smoothly around the dial.
- Swiss Made
- A certification denoting that 60% of the production occurs in Switzerland.
- Tachymeter
- A scale used to measure speed based on travel time.
- Titanium
- A lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal ideal for sports and diving watches.
- Two-Tone
- A watch design combining two different metal colors, typically gold and steel.
- Water Resistance
- The capability of a watch to withstand water pressure under various depths.
- Water Resistant 3 atm or 30 m
- Resistant to rain and splashes; not for bathing or swimming.
- Water Resistant 5 atm or 50 m
- Safe for showering and shallow swimming.
- Water Resistant 10 atm or 100 m
- Suitable for snorkeling and water sports.
- Water Resistant 20 atm or 200 m
- Appropriate for professional marine activities and diving.
- Water Resistant 30+ atm or 300+ m
- Suitable for professional scuba diving.