Watch Parts Everyone Should Know
The most common parts that almost everyone knows about are the case and the bracelet of a watch. But that is not just what a watch comprises of. Hence, here’s a list of ten watch parts that we feel every watch enthusiast should know about.
Case
The case is the outer shell that houses the movement of the watch and even has a glass attached to it that allows you to see the time. The case also connects to the bracelet or the strap so that the watch can be worn on a wrist. Watch cases are available in a variety of material options starting from Stainless Steel to even Precious metals like Gold or Platinum. These days, Swiss watch manufacturers are experimenting with other materials like Ceramic and Carbon TPT as well.
Bezel
Bezel is the ring surrounding the dial. This is something that can really lift up the appearance of the timepiece. In most cases, the bezel is made of the same material as the case. However, there are watches that either feature a Ceramic Bezel for better durability or Gold Bezel allowing for better designs like the Fluted Bezels on Rolex watches. Some watches even have functional bezels like the one on the Sky-Dweller allows you to access different settings of the complicated timepiece. On chronograph watches, there is usually a tachymeter scale placed on the bezel.
Crown
A crown is a small knob that is usually placed on the right side of the case. It is used to set the time, day and date on the watch. On mechanical watches, the crown also allows the user to wind the movement of the watch.
Dial
The dial is one of the most important parts of a watch and it is also called the face of the watch. This is what grabs attention, shows the time and flaunts a special design making it different from other watches. There are both simple and complicated dials depending on the type of watch you are looking for. Something that is becoming more common these days is a “Skeleton” dial. This dial allows you to look into the intricate movement of the watch.
Crystal
The transparent cover over the dial which is usually referred to as the glass of the watch is actually called the crystal. While it is nothing wrong in calling it a watch glass, the crystal is a more appropriate term to use as there are watches which even come with acrylic or plexiglass crystals.
Hands
Hands are found on analog watches and they help indicate the time. Depending on what watch it is, there are hands for showing the hours, minutes, seconds and even day and date.
Movement
Sometimes referred to as the heart of the watch, the movement is the watch’s engine that consists of all the moving parts. Primarily, there are two types of movements – Quartz and Mechanical. While Quartz movements function through a battery and are more accurate, it is the mechanical movements that are more interesting to look at. Even if it is a mechanical movement, these are further segregated into two main types – Automatic and Manual. Quartz movement only require a simple battery replacement every few years, where as there is a proper watch servicing required for the mechanical movement based watches.
Lugs
Lugs are the extended part of the case on the top and the bottom. The lugs are used to hold the strap or the bracelet in place. The size of the strap depends on the distance between lugs, which is usually measured in millimeters.
Rotor
A rotor is something you will only find on automatic self-winding watches. The rotor is what spins with the movement of the wrist to wind the mainspring. This essentially allows the watch to keep running without the need of a manual winding.
Balance Wheel
Found only on mechanical watches, balance wheel oscillates back and forth, regulating the timekeeping of the watch. It is a part of the escapement system on a mechanical movement, which divides time into equal segments. Balance wheel is one of the most crucial parts inside a mechanical movement.
Many More Watch Parts are Involved
While the aforementioned parts are some of the more crucial parts of a watch, there are many other parts involved in the working of a timepiece. Since there are hundreds of different watch parts, we will have to cover them in a different article. But for now, these are the main parts you should know about.
