When you want to talk about your watch, what are the terms you use to describe the anatomy of your timepiece? Well, here are the correct words to use when talking about your watch.
Movement: The beating heart of the watch, some people call it the engine. It powers the hands of the watch. Comes in either a mechanical, quartz (batteries) or spring drive. Some movements may have added complications to it; like a chronograph or an hour striker. Click here to find out the different movements that can be put into timepieces.
Dial: The dial is where watchmakers really show their artistic talents. Think of it as a painting that covers the movement. It usually has the numerals or sticks for the hours. Some dials come as skeletonized (shows the movement). But that is a matter of taste.
Case: The case is what shapes the timepiece and protects it. It comes in all different sizes and shapes. Most common shape is the normal circle. It also comes in different materials: gold, platinum, steel, carbon just to name a few.
Bezel: The bezel is what protects the watch’s crystal. Usually its fixed on luxury watches and has different patterns and designs to it, or could be just a normal circle. In some watches, it may have a tachymeter to time certain things. However in dive watches, the bezel is not fixed, could be spun around the crystal and has numbers from 1 to 24 to time their dives.
Crystal: The crystal is what covers the dial and protects it. It prevents dust, water and air from going inside the movement and messing up the accuracy of the watch. It comes in sapphire instead of glass in some watches for added value; like anti-scratching, harder to break hence it being the second hardest element after diamonds.
Crown: The crown of the watch is what changes it time. In mechanical watches it winds the movement. It usually is placed by 3 o’clock in most watches. In some watches the crown could be screwed into the case to have a better protection against water or dust.
Bracelet/Strap: The bracelet/strap is self-explanatory. It keeps the watch on your wrist. It comes in different materials like: rubber, leather, gold, stainless steel, platinum and many more options to go to.
The most common name people give the dial is “face”, and I was guilty of that sin myself. Tell me, what weird terms did you give your watch parts?
