Watch Glossary
Watch Glossary (A–Z)
Understanding watch terminology can feel overwhelming. This glossary explains common watch terms in clear, plain English to help you better understand, care for, and choose your timepieces.
Jump to a Letter
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Acrylic Crystal
A lightweight plastic watch glass, more prone to scratches than sapphire but easier to polish.
Automatic Movement
A mechanical movement powered by the motion of the wearer’s wrist, requiring no battery.
B
Bar
A unit of pressure used to indicate water resistance (1 bar ≈ 10 metres).
Bezel
The ring surrounding the watch dial; may be fixed or rotating (common on dive watches).
C
Case
The outer shell of the watch that houses the movement.
Case Back
The rear cover of the watch case; can be snap-on, screw-down, or exhibition (transparent).
Chronograph
A watch with a built-in stopwatch function.
Crown
The knob on the side of the watch used to set time, date, and wind the movement.
D
Dial
The face of the watch displaying the time.
Dive Watch
A watch designed for underwater use, typically ISO-certified with a screw-down crown.
E
Exhibition Case Back
A transparent case back allowing the movement to be viewed.
F
Frequency
The rate at which a movement oscillates, measured in vibrations per hour (vph).
G
Gasket
A rubber seal that helps prevent water and dust from entering the watch.
GMT
A function allowing the display of two time zones simultaneously.
H
Hands
The indicators on the dial showing hours, minutes, and seconds.
Horology
The art and science of timekeeping and watchmaking.
I
ISO
International Organisation for Standardisation; sets standards such as ISO 22810 and ISO 6425.
J
Jewels
Synthetic rubies used inside movements to reduce friction and wear.
K
Kinetic Movement
A movement that generates electrical energy from wrist motion and stores it in a capacitor.
L
Lug
The protruding arms of the case where the strap or bracelet attaches.
Lume
Luminescent material applied to hands and markers for low-light visibility.
M
Manual Movement
A mechanical movement that must be wound by hand.
Movement
The internal mechanism that powers the watch.
N
NATO Strap
A durable nylon strap originally developed for military use.
O
Oscillation
The back-and-forth motion regulating time in a mechanical watch.
P
Power Reserve
The amount of time a fully wound watch will run before stopping.
Pushers
Buttons on the case used to operate chronograph functions.
Q
Quartz Movement
A battery-powered movement regulated by a quartz crystal.
R
Rotor
A weighted component that winds an automatic movement.
S
Sapphire Crystal
A highly scratch-resistant synthetic crystal used as watch glass.
Screw-Down Crown
A crown that screws into the case to improve water resistance.
T
Tachymeter
A scale used to calculate speed over a known distance.
U
UTC
Coordinated Universal Time; the global time standard.
V
Vibration
The oscillation of the balance wheel that regulates timekeeping.
W
Water Resistance
A measure of how well a watch withstands water pressure under test conditions.
Winding
The process of storing energy in the mainspring.
X
X-Factor (Shock Resistance)
A general term referring to enhanced durability against impacts.
Y
Year Indicator
A calendar complication displaying the current year.
Z
Zirconia
A ceramic material sometimes used in watch cases and bezels for durability.
This glossary is intended as a general guide. For specific care advice, always refer to your watch manufacturer’s recommendations.