Analogue - Uses hands to display the time over a twelve hour period
Alarm - an audible alarm sounded at a preset time by the watch wearer
Alitmeter - A watch function that measures changes in baromatic pressure to show altitude
Analogue Quartz - Often a feature of sports watches shows the time as both a digital and hands display
Atmosphere - Pressure measurement used to indicate water resistance
Auto Repeat Timer - When a timer function is set this function will count down to zero, alarm and return to start again only stops when stop button is pressed
Automatic - These watches require no winding as the movement of the wearer moves an oscillating weight which keeps the watch working
Bar - Small rod with a sprung pivot at each end that attaches the watch to the strap
Base Metal - Manufacturer material any base metal which is non precious
Battery - Cell used to power watch
Bezel - Ring on outside of the watch that holds the glass in place, some sports watches have a rotating bezel as part of the timing function
Buckle - Fastener which attaches the two sections of a strap onto a wrist
Button - Push buttons to control sports watches and chronograph functions
Calender - A watch function which shows the date and often also the day and month in a cut out recessed box within the dial, usually present on chronograph watches
Cambered - Curved dial or bezel
Case - Chassis of the watch housing watch parts
Case Back - Protects back of watch and either screwed or snapped into place dependant on watch water resistant properties
Chronograph - Multifunction sports watch often with three small dials showing seconds minutes and hours, for example
Cosmograph - Similar to chronograph except that the tachymeter function is found on the watches bezel
Crystal - Clear dial cover types often include Acrylic crystal and Mineral crystal
Dial - Dial sits on top of the movement and provides individual styling
Digital - Watch showing time in numbers not hands
Directional Compass - Geographical direction displayed by a rotatiing bezel or digital readout
Divers Watch - High specification watches which meet ISO standards
Dual Time - Watch that provides current local time aswell as one other time zone, for example
Eco-Drive - No battery required
Fashion Watch - funky on trend fashion accessory often low cost to match outfits
Hands - on dial and shows current hours, seconds and minutes
Horology - Scientific name for watch development and time measurement
Hourly Time Indicator - Single Beep indicating each hour
LCD - Liquid Crystal Display
Leather Strap - Watch strap made from natural materials
Lugs - Attachment for strap either side of the case
Lumi Brite/Neo Brite - Environmentally safe that glows brightly without battery use
Luminous - Self illuminating paint often used on hands or hour markers to aid reading in dark conditions
Manual - Hand wound mechanisum
Mineral Glass - Hardened watch glass that is scratch resistant
Moon Phase - Watch that keeps track of the phases of the moon through an aperture on watch dial
Movement - inner workings that make up time keeping function of watch
Perpetual - Calender that adjusts for months of varying lenghts aswell as leap years
Quartz - Once activated a thin sliver of crystal vibrates to provide accurate timekeeping
Rotating Bezel - Bezel than can turn one or both ways around the face providing varying functions
Solar Powered - Type of quartz movement where the batteries are charged bysolar panels on the face. Power reserves so no problems running in the dark, for example
Solid State - A watch with no moving parts, digital watches are 100% solid state whilst analogue watches have a combination of both
Sports Watch - Sports watches are more hard wearing with a higher specification of functions to support every avid sports person, ladies sports watch
Subdial - A small dial located within the main watch face that can be used for several purposes
Sun/Moon Indicator - Wheel on a watch that depicts day and night through a rotating display
Tachymeter - A function which allows the wearer to measure the speed they travel at by a numeric scale on the watch bezel of a chronograph.
Tonneau Watch - Watch which has a barrel shaped face with convex sides.
24-hour indicator - Watch that displays military time by sub-wheels or digital display
Waterproof - A term which should not be relied upon as no watch can be fully waterproof (see water resistant)
Water Resistant - The level of water resitance informs a buyer to what depth a watch will remain water tight at, this varies as shown below:-
Water Resistant - general rain and water spalshing not suitable for swimming
Tested to 50 metres - 5ATM showering or swimming in shallow water
Tested to 100 metres - 10ATM swimming or snorkeling
Tested to 150 metres - 15ATM snorkeling
Tested to 200 metres - 20ATM skin diving
Divers watch to 150 & 200 metres - Meets ISO standards and is suitable for scuba diving
World Times - Can display more than one world time zone often found of the outer edge of the face or on the bezel.
