A common watch movement decoration in which small, overlapping circles are made in metal plates and bridges with a grinding tool.
A calendar complication displaying the day, date and month that correctly adjusts for 30 and 31 days of the months, February’s shorter month and leap years. The next time most perpetual calendars will need to be adjusted is the year 2100. It can also be referred to as a Quantième Perpetual.
One of the most popular types of watches, inspired by aviation. A pilot’s watch is often oversized and has a large, very legible dial, anti-magnetic properties, high shock resistance and should withstand sudden changes in temperature or pressure. A pilot’s watch dial has clear, highly contrasting markings, including a triangular marking at 12 to identify the watch’s up from down in mid-flight.
The most common type of buckle for a strap, where one end of the strap slips through a metal buckle and secures itself with a pin through one of the adjustment holes in the strap.
A round gear and usually the smaller of two meshing gears.
An alloy of yellow gold, silver, and copper, in which the latter two metals result in a pinkish color. Also known as rose gold.
A piece of metal that serves as a base for other components in a movement’s structure. The main plate holds all the other bridges and parts together and forms the backbone of a movement. A plate usually has threaded holes for fixing and smooth holes to accommodate for jewels on pivot points.
One of the rarest and most expensive of the natural precious metals, and much denser and harder than silver or gold. Known as a white metal, it’s silver in color and classed as a noble metal as it’s very resistant to corrosion.
A watch designed to be carried in a pocket rather than worn on the wrist. These were the first portable, personal timepieces going back hundreds of years. Many pocket watches have physical covers protecting the crystal and chains or lanyards for easy retrieval. A watch with a full or partial cover over a crystal can be referred to as a watch with a Hunter or Half Hunter case.
The highest certification of quality with a State guarantee, awarded by an independent bureau in Geneva. Watches must meet 12 criteria, including the highest levels of decorative finishing, precision and craftsmanship. Awarded watches have the Geneva coat of arms stamped on the movement. Eligible pieces must be produced in the canton of Geneva. Also known as the Hallmark of Geneva or Geneva Seal.
A technique where a part is finished to reflect like a mirror. This can be applied to various materials like steel, gold or platinum, and to a whole range of watch parts including the case, dial, markers, hands or even movement components.
The amount of time a fully wound mainspring can power a watch before the movement stops, requiring the spring to be rewound.
A chronograph watch with a specialized pulsometric scale printed on the dial used to calculate the number of heartbeats per minute, usually via a chronograph seconds hand. Beats are counted until the hand reaches a designated number, commonly 15 or 30. The pulsometric scale indicates the corresponding heart rate when the chronograph is stopped.
External buttons on a watch case used to activate various complications, such as the timer on a chronograph or chimes from a repeater.
A hard, resilient coating on metal (usually black), achieved when a solid material is vaporized in a vacuum and then deposited on the target object as a thin film.
