Argos Watches

Watch Glossary

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A

Alarm

A device that sounds at a set time to alert you.

Altimeter

A device that measures altitude by detecting changes in air pressure.

Analog Display

A watch display using hands and a dial to show the time.

Automatic Winding

A mechanism that winds the watch automatically through wrist movement.

Aperture

A small opening on the dial showing information like date or day.

Anti Magnetic

A watch resistant to the effects of magnetic fields.

B

Band

 A strap or bracelet that holds the watch on your wrist.

Balance

The part in a mechanical watch that divides time into equal parts.

Balance Spring

A small spring that helps return the balance wheel to its neutral position.

Balance Wheel

A component in mechanical watches that helps regulate time.

Basel

The largest watch fair held annually in Basel, Switzerland.

Bezel

The ring around the watch face that holds the crystal in place.

Bi Directional Rotating Bezel

A bezel that rotates in both directions to track time.

Binenfacture

A Swiss term meaning high-quality craftsmanship.

C

Calendar

A watch feature that displays the date, and sometimes day or month.

Caliber

The size or model of a watch movement.

Case

The outer casing of a watch that protects its movement.

Caseback

The bottom part of the watch case, often clear to show the movement.

Chronograph

A watch with a timer feature that starts and stops.

Chronometer

A high-precision watch that meets strict Swiss standards.

Côtes de Genève

A decorative pattern on watch movements, often used in Swiss watches.

Countdown

A timer that tracks time remaining in a set period.

Crown

A button on the side of the watch used for setting the time and winding.

Crystal

The clear cover protecting the watch dial.

Cyclops

 A lens on the crystal that magnifies the date display.

D

Day-Date

A watch that shows both the day of the week and the date.

Day/Night Indicator

A feature showing day and night hours on a world time watch.

Deployant Buckle

A type of watch buckle that folds for easy wear.

Destro

A watch designed to be worn on the right hand.

Dial

The face of the watch displaying time and other information.

Digital Watch

A watch with a numerical display instead of hands.

E

Escapement

A mechanism in mechanical watches that controls hand movement.

ETA

A Swiss company known for making movements used in many watches.

F

Fly Back Hand

A chronograph hand that resets to zero instantly when pressed.

G

Gasket

A rubber seal that helps prevent water from entering the watch.

Gear Train

The set of gears that transmit energy from the mainspring to the escapement.

Geneva Stripes

A decorative wave pattern on watch movement components.

German Silver

An alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel used in watchmaking.

Goldplating

A thin coating of gold applied to the watch case for aesthetics.

Gray Market

Unauthorized sellers of new watches.

Grand Sonnerie

 A repeater that chimes the hours and quarter hours.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

A standard time used as a reference for other time zones.

Guilloche

Decorative engraving or patterns, often on the watch dial.

H

Hand

The indicator that moves over the dial to show time.

Helium Escape Valve

A valve to release helium gas in diving watches to prevent glass popping.

Horology

The study and science of timekeeping.

Hour Makers

Numbers or symbols on the dial indicating the hours.

Hunter Pocket Watch

A pocket watch with a cover and a winding stem at 3 o'clock.

J

Jewels

Synthetic sapphires or rubies used as bearings to reduce friction.

L

Lepine Watch

A pocket watch without a cover, with a stem at 12 o'clock.

Lugs

Projections on the watch case that hold the strap or bracelet.

Luminescence

Material on the watch that glows in the dark for visibility.

M

Mainspring

The coiled spring in a mechanical watch that powers the movement.

Manufacture

A watch brand that makes its own movements.

Military Time

A 24-hour time system (e.g., 2200 hours for 10:00 PM).

Mineral Crystals

Toughened glass used for watch crystals that are scratch-resistant.

Mechanical Movement

A movement powered by a mainspring in mechanical watches.

Movement

The internal mechanism of a watch that keeps time.

P

Perlage

Decorative circular patterns on the movement plates of a watch.

Perpetual Calendar

A watch that adjusts for different month lengths and leap years.

Plastic Crystals

Flexible crystals that resist impacts and can be buffed out if scratched.

Power Reserve Indicator

A feature showing how much power is left in the watch's mainspring.

PVD

 A coating process that adds color to a watch case.

Q

Quartz Movement

A movement powered by a quartz crystal that keeps time accurately.

Quick Set

 A feature allowing quick setting of the date without rotating the hands.

R

Rattrapante

A chronograph with two second hands that can be stopped independently.

Regulator

A part of the movement that ensures time accuracy by regulating beats.

Repeater

A watch that chimes the time when a lever is pressed.

Retrograde Hand

A hand that moves over part of a dial and then resets to its starting point.

Richemont

A luxury goods company owning many watch brands, including Cartier and IWC.

Rider Tabs

Markers on the bezel used for tracking elapsed time.

Rotor

The part of an automatic watch that winds the mainspring as it moves.

S

Sapphire Crystals

Extremely scratch-resistant crystal used in high-end watches.

Screw Back

A caseback that screws into the watch to protect the movement.

Screw Down Crown

A crown that screws into the case for extra water resistance.

Shock Absorber

A mechanism in the movement to protect it from impacts.

Shock Resistance

A watch's ability to withstand shocks without affecting its timekeeping.

S.I.H.H

A prestigious Swiss watch trade show held annually in Geneva.

Skeleton Watch

A watch where the movement is visible due to cutaway parts.

Slide Rule

A rotating bezel used for mathematical calculations.

Small Seconds Dial

A small dial showing the seconds, usually separate from the main dial.

Sweeping Seconds Hand

A second hand that moves smoothly across the dial.

Swiss Made

A designation meaning the watch was made in Switzerland following strict standards.

T

Tachometer

A feature on a chronograph used to calculate speed or production rates.

Tang Buckle

A traditional buckle that fastens by passing through the strap holes.

Time Zones

Regions of the world that use different local times based on GMT.

Tongue

The metal part of a buckle that goes into the strap holes to fasten the watch.

Tonneau Watch

A watch shaped like a barrel, with convex sides.

Tourbillon

A mechanism that compensates for gravity to improve accuracy.

Tritium

A radioactive material used to make hands and markers glow in the dark.

U

Uni Directional Rotating Bezel

A bezel used on dive watches that rotates in one direction for safety.

W

Water Resistance

A watch's ability to resist water infiltration at certain depths.

Wheel

A circular part that transmits power within a watch movement.

Winding

The action of tightening the mainspring by hand or automatically.