Watch Glossary

Three-piece link design with center H-shaped connectors, offering flexibility and comfort

John Harrison's first marine chronometer, completed in 1735 using a grasshopper escapement

Harrison's pocket watch-style chronometer that won the Longitude Prize with remarkable accuracy

Second hand stops when crown pulled, enables precise synchronization, common in field watches

Fine surface scratches on polished watch case surfaces, expected on worn vintage timepieces

Delicate spiral spring attached to the balance wheel that controls its oscillation rate.

Careful removal and cleaning of delicate hairspring without deformation

Fixed point anchoring one end of hairspring to balance cock or balance wheel

Pocket watch case with small opening in cover allowing dial to be viewed without opening fully.

Official Swiss quality certification for watches made in Geneva region

Irregular dimpled surface mimicking hand-hammering technique

Manually cutting decorative designs into watch components using specialized engraving tools.

Luminous material applied to watch hands enabling visibility in darkness

Mechanical press tool for installing watch hands with precise alignment and pressure

Edges manually angled and finished by hand for sophisticated look

Manually beveled edges at precise angles for refined appearance

Surface finished by hand using polishing compounds for refined shine

Manual winding required, no automatic rotor, lighter and simpler design, 4R36, 6R35, 240

Installation of new watch hands when original is damaged or worn

Complete assembly of hour, minute, and seconds hands in coordinated design.

Enlarged, contrasting hour hands critical for quick time reading during dives.

Watch collecting emphasizing physical evaluation and appreciation of timepieces over investment

Vintage watches where date changes coincide with hour hand position at midnight.

Miniature vibration motor providing tactile notifications without audible alerts

High-Accuracy Quartz movement achieving annual rates better than ±10 seconds.

High watchmaking; artisanal craftsmanship producing exceptional mechanical timepieces

Heating metal to specific temperatures to alter hardness, strength, and other physical properties.

One-way valve on the case allowing pressurized gas release during decompression.

Condition where helium gas saturates diver tissues during extended deep work.

Gas escape valve used in dive watches to release helium trapped during saturation diving decompression

Acrylic plastic crystal material used in vintage watches; lightweight and prone to scratching

Abbreviation for helium escape valve; critical for deep saturation diving operations.

Mirror-like reflective surface achieved through progressive polishing

Movement with vibration frequency above 28,800 bph for smoother second hand motion.

Case made with hollow sections inside the caseband to reduce weight while maintaining durability.

Lightweight bracelet link with interior space, reducing overall weight.

Bracelet links with interior space, lighter weight and cost-effective construction

Timepiece inspired by or closely resembling another iconic watch design

Dial surface with hexagonal pattern texture resembling honeycomb structure

Fine abrasive machining process achieving smooth surfaces and precise hole diameters.

Parallel horizontal lines creating soft, satin-like surface texture

Relating to the science, study, and art of timekeeping and watch design

Master craftsperson specializing in the design, construction, and repair of clocks and watches

Premium shell leather from Horween tannery, develops deep patina, extremely durable

Indices positioned at hour positions indicating time divisions on dial.

Wheel rotating once per 12 hours, driven by minute wheel via motion works

Green Submariner Date reference 116610LV, named for its vibrant hulking green color.

Exposure of sealed watch to controlled moisture levels to check seal integrity

Pocket watch with hinged metal cover protecting the crystal, favored by hunters and travelers.