Royal Maui Jewelers
BRIEF HISTORY OF WATCHES AND GLOSSARY
Here you’ll find a handy jewelry glossary that explains some of the history and terminology behind heirloom jewelry. We would love to discuss our jewelry with you in person. Please feel free to visit either of our stores, in San Diego or Escondido. We offer incredible Hawaiian jewelry plus luxury watches, bridal jewelry, and much more. Our stores are open 11 am – 6 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am – 5 pm Sunday
The earliest known clocks relied on a shadow cast by the sun onto a special disk or plate especially known as a ‘Sundial’, but useless on cloudy days and in the evenings. Mechanical clocks were invented in Europe in the 14th century and became the ultimate timekeeping device until the pendulum clocks were introduced in the 18th century.
In the 1960s electric watches begin their journey into the international market and soon after quartz watches were introduced in the USA.
Glossary of A Terms and Definitions
- Analogue: Most watches are designed to indicate time by the inner movement which rotates the hands for the hour and the minutes and some watches may also have a second hand.
- Authorized dealer: Any retail store that has been authorized by the Manufacturer/Distributor to officially carry and display their brand named watches.
- Automatic: An automatic watch is a mechanical movement which winds by a semi-circular wheel which rotates by the wearer.
- Bracelet/Band: The “bracelet” is the part of a watch that wraps around the wrist to hold the watch case in its place. Among them are and not limited to steel, gold, leather and even rubber.
- Bezel: The bezel is a circular attachment that wraps around the crystal of a watch. Some are polished, some may have a unique finish to it and some may have diamonds set in it.
- Case: it is the main component in which the entire movement is held and protected. It is generally made up of 3 parts, bezel, crystal and back, it also have to have an opening for the crown, as well as lugs that holds a band which basically makes it a wristwatch.
- Chronograph: any watch that has a built-in stopwatch function. Used for timing a race or any event.
- Chronometer: For a Swiss watch to be called a chronometer, it must pass a lab test by a Swiss Official Chronometer Control known as (C.O.S.C), it has to meet or exceed certain high standard which is set by the laboratory.
- Crown: The watch crown is the button used to wind and/or set the watch.
- Crystal: A crystal is the clear cover of the watch through which the wearer can see the dial. It is usually a clear synthetic Sapphire; it may also be glass or acrylic.
- Cyclops: On some watches, a special magnifier lens is attached onto the crystal which makes the date easier to read.
- Day/Date: Refers to a watch that has a small window/opening on the dial which displays the day of the month and or the day of the week.
- Dial: also known as the watch “face”. It is the dial itself that helps indicate the actual time; it contains the 12 markers in terms of sticks, roman numerals, etc. It would also have the brand name of the watch and its logo.
- Hands: Refers to the pointers that indicate the actual time.
- Mechanical Movement: Any watch movement powered by a mainspring and other parts instead of an electronic part.
- Movement: A movement is the core of a watch that keeps time by moving the watch’s hands, calendar and more.
- Moonphase: A graphic display on the dial to indicate the phase of the moon.
- Quartz Movement: A watch powered by the battery, quartz and circuits.
- Shock Resistant: A watch movement that has been specially designed to withstand impacts.
- Water Resistance: Any watch especially designed with gaskets to protect the movement from water. Being water resistant, it allows the wearer to wear in water or for diving.
