THE ROX WATCH GLOSSARY

An automatic watch is a watch that operates through the continued motion of the wearer's wrist. Automatic wristwatches do not need winding if worn daily. The energy is stored by using a half-disc metal weight, called a rotor, which spins when the arm is moved. This energy is used to power the watch and can keep the watch going at night or while the watch is not being worn. Stored energy in an automatic wristwatch can keep an unworn watch running for 24 to 48 hours.

The Barrel is a cylindrical box in which the mainspring of the watch is housed. The toothed rim of this barrel drives the train of the watch. The Bezel is the outer ring that encloses the watch dial and glass face. It can be plain, or inscribed with various markings as timing features.

The Calibre is the name for a watch movement before it is fitted into a watch case. They are usually distinguished with a name or number dependant on the manufacturer. The Case is the housing for the watch movement and offering the main design focus for a piece. It offers protection against water, dust and shocks and can be crafted from a multitude of materials.

A watch chronograph provides a stopwatch function that can record time durations. It generally has a separate second hand and can record – seconds, minutes, hours and in some cases days. These are usually displayed on sub dials, featured on the face of the watch and the function is stopped, started and reset by two pushers, normally situated either side of the crown.

COSC – Contrôle Officiel Suisse de Chronomètre - the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, which is the institute responsible for certifying the accuracy and precision of wristwatches in Switzerland. . A Chronometre is a watch that passes the test set by the COSC. The tests are operated at various temperatures and positions and the watch must function to within -4 / +6 seconds daily.

A button on the end of a stem that leads to the internals of the watch movement. When pulled out you can set the time and date and simply push it back in to allow the watch to continue working. It is also where mechanical / automatic watches can be wound by hand.

An additional feature added to a watch movement that is additional to its normal functionality. These can include; Chronographs, Moon-Phases, Repeating Mechanisms, Tourbillions, Second Time Zones, Calendars.

The main display of a watch, also known as the face. It can also feature sub dials in order to read various different complications – eg; Chronograph timing, Moon phase and Power reserve. Some pieces can also feature various materials or textures to add dimension. Mother-of-Pearl is common in ladies pieces. DLC or Diamond-like carbon is a form of carbon that displays some of the unique properties of natural diamond. When applied to watches, it produces a grey/black finish that is highly scratch and corrosion resistant.

The wearer can simply hit the ‘Reset’ button on the chronograph and it will reset but begin timing again. It means you do not have to perform the ‘Reset – Start’ function like normal pieces.

Sometimes referred to as the Geneva Hallmark or Poinçon de Genève, it is a awarded to watch movements of the highest quality manufactured in the Canton of Geneva. Watch movements that pass the bureau in Geneva’s 12 criteria are stamped with the seal.

This is the light emitting material placed on watch hands, dials and indices. It allows for easy reading of the time in dark or low light conditions. It is charged by natural and artificial light sources as the user wears the watch. It is created using various chemicals and merging them together.

The bezel is marked off in 24 hour indices. The GMT hand moves at exactly one half the speed of the standard 12 hour hand. Therefore, it indicates the time using a 24 hr format and is always read off the bezel. The Mercedes hand (12 hour hand) can be set independently from the 24 hour hand and is always read off the regular 12 hour dial. If you want to track a 3rd time zone, you can rotate the bezel off by the number of hours of that new time zone as the bezel on a GMT is Bi-Directional.

Is a watch with several complications, the most complex achievements of haute horlogerie, or fine watchmaking. It generally refers to a watch with the most complicated of complications all in one piece. EG – Tourbillion, perpetual calander, minute repeater.

This is the art of measuring time. It is the essence of watchmakers and watch wearers and what defines your love and passion for watches.

The extended parts of a watch case that a bracelet / strap are attached to.

Wound by the crown, the watch is charged, however unlike and automatic it does not contain a rotor disc therefore does not charge by the movements of the wearer’s wrist.

Housed in the barrel, this spring is wound and tightened by the winding of a watch or as the wearer induces the rotor to spin. As the mainspring unwinds itself it powers the watch.

The watch repeater is a chime function that can be altered to operate at different timed intervals – hours, half hours, quarter hours and sometimes minutes. The chime noise is produced by a striking hammer which strikes either the case or an added internal piece within the watch. Repeaters are usually produced by luxury brands including Hublot as due to their intricacy of design they are time consuming and expensive to produce.

Is the internal mechanism of a watch. A movement is what powers a watch and can be; automatic, manual or quartz.

The aperture on a watch dial is for purely aesthetic reasons. They allow you to see through the dial and onto the movement, also part of the date wheel etc. It can also be used to give a false impression of a Tourbillion in the watch face.

Highly scratch-resistant, Sapphire Crystal is the most popular glass to use for a watch. Its protection qualities against scratches and shock ensure it protects your watch and also itself remains undamaged, making reading the time easy as no scratches cover the surface.

A self winding watch is wound exactly the same as an Automatic, yet it has no ability to automatically charge itself based on simple movement. It requires resetting and recharging almost every 12 hours. Self winding watches are traditionally used as cheap alternatives to Automatic movements as they do not have the rotor disc function of recharging.

Sub dials are mini dials on a watch face that allow for various things to be read dependant on their function. Eg Date, Chronograph Timers.

A movement in which the dial is no longer present, the bridges, plates and wheels have all been modified in order to make the movement appear attractive from a front view. Sapphire Glass usually is placed on the rear of the case also, making it almost transparent and the movement becomes a visual masterpiece.