Watches have long symbolized precision, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance. Whether you are just starting your collection, a seasoned enthusiast, or simply curious, understanding the various parts of a watch is essential. This knowledge will help you choose your ideal watch as well as determine when your watch needs repair.
What Are the Different Watch Parts?
Watches come in a variety of styles and designs, but the internal components of most watches are the same. Each component plays an important role in keeping time and performing various functions. These integral watch parts include:
- Bezel
- Case
- Crown
- Crystal
- Dial
- Lugs
- Movement
- Supplementary functions
- Watch band
What is the Bezel?
The bezel of a watch is the ring that surrounds the watch face. It serves as a protective piece by guarding the crystal of the watch face and is a decorative element.
As the bezel is usually the first part to catch someone’s eye, you’ll want to ensure the one you choose matches your personal style and preference. The various bezel choices include:
- Fixed bezels: The most common type of bezel. It serves the watch dial more as a decoration than protection.
- Rotating bezels: These can be turned or rotated around the dial and are specific for timekeeping purposes, precisely measuring elapsed time. They are common in diving watches and pilot watches.
- Tachymeter bezels: These measure speed over a fixed distance. This type of bezel is a favorite among road and bike racers.
- GMT bezels: GMT bezels allow the tracking of multiple time zones, with an additional hour hand and 24-hour bezel.
- Diving bezels: Designed specifically for diving watches, diving bezels can help track immersion time and reduce danger when submerged for extended periods.
Understanding the Watch Case
The watch case contains the watch dial and movement. It protects these parts from everyday wear and tear due to moisture, dust, and shock. It is one of the most basic parts of the watch and can be made from a variety of materials, including:
- Stainless steel
- Gold
- Titanium
- Platinum
- Brass
- Bronze
What Does the Crown Do?
This is a small knob-like part that sticks out from the side of the case. Often referred to as the watch crown or winding crown, it can set the time, date, and other complications, and wind the watch’s movement to keep it working. The crown is the part that needs a watch repair most often.
Watch Face Crystal
The watch crystal is another protective layer that protects the watch dial from damage caused by dirt, moisture, and shock. It can also make the watch face look more polished and easier to read in low light. The crystal is generally made of a piece of transparent mineral glass, synthetic sapphire, or acrylic.
Watch Dial and Watch Face
The watch dial is the same as the watch face and is where you tell the time. An analog watch displays hour markers much like a standard clock, whereas a digital watch displays numbers on the screen with either 12-hour or 24-hour times.
The watch dial is one of the easiest ways to distinguish watch types from one another. There are many different kinds of watch dials, but some of the most common ones include:
- Crosshair
- Enamel
- Guilloche
- Skeleton
- Tapisserie
What Are the Lugs?
The lugs are small metal protrusions where the strap or bracelet attaches to the watch dial. Sometimes referred to as horns, they play an essential role in the overall design and durability of the watch.
What Does the Movement Do?
A watch movement, also known as a caliber, is the mechanism that powers the watch and keeps the time. It is essentially the engine of the timepiece, responsible for driving the hands and any additional complications such as the date, chronographic functions, or moon phase indicators. Watch movements are categorized into three types:
1. Mechanical Watch Movements
A mechanical movement watch can be further divided into manual winding and automatic or self-winding. Manual winding movements require the wearer to wind the crown periodically to keep the watch moving, while automatic winding uses the natural motion of the wearer’s wrist to wind the crown.
2. Quartz Watch Movements
Quartz movement watches are powered by a battery and use a quartz crystal to regulate timekeeping. Quartz watches are known for being accurate and requiring little maintenance.
3. Hybrid/Solar Watch Movements
This movement either combines the features of a mechanical and quartz movement or uses solar energy to power the watch. These are recommended for those who are trying to monitor their environmental impact.
How Do Supplementary Functions Affect the Watch Face?
Supplementary functions are any features the watch face offers other than telling time. The most common additional features are day-date and calendar displays, but more complex watch faces may feature things like:
- Moon phases
- Time zones
- Alarms
- Tachymeter
- Tourbillon
- Compass
- Power reserve indicator
- Chronograph
What is the Watch Band?
The watch band or bracelet secures the watch dial to the wearer’s wrist. Watch bands are where you can showcase your style as they come in different materials, styles, and designs. The main types of watch bands include:
- Leather straps: Leather strap watches are made from various types of leather and are available in many colors and textures.
- Metal bracelets: These bracelets are crafted with metals such as stainless steel, titanium, gold, or other metals. They are generally composed of interlocking links and have a fold-over clasp. Try out a mixed metal band watch for a unique look.
- Rubber or silicone straps: Durable and water-resistant, these rubber or silicone strap watches are typically used for sport and dive watches. They are much more casual than other watch band options.
- NATO straps: These straps are made from nylon, are durable, and are easily adjustable. They are often used in military-style watches.
- Mesh bands: Made from fine metal links woven together to create a flexible, mesh-like band. They offer a unique look and a high level of comfort.
- Canvas straps: Canvas straps are made of a durable fabric and are generally worn for casual purposes or with outdoor watches.
- Ceramic bands: Fastened from high-tech ceramic materials that are lightweight and scratch-resistant, ceramic band watches are great for everyday wear.
Proper maintenance of all watch parts will ensure your Oris watch remains in its best shape for years to come. Should your luxury watch ever need repair, we offer on-site watch repair services for any watch purchased at Fink’s or another jewelry store. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your designer watch is in the hands of a professional jeweler.
