This A-to-Z guide covers essential terminology from the world of horology — from intricate components to watch styles and complications. Curated for Watchello customers, it serves both newcomers and enthusiasts alike.

A

• A/h (Alternanze/ora) or VPH: Oscillations per hour of the balance wheel. Higher = more precise.
• Analog Watch: Displays time with hands and hour markers.
• Annual Calendar: Displays day/date/month; corrects automatically except in February.
• Anti-magnetic: Resists magnetic field interference.
• Aperture: Small dial window showing date, moon phase, etc.
• Automatic Movement: Self-winds via wearer’s motion (rotor-powered).

B

• Balance Wheel: Oscillating wheel regulating mechanical movement.
• Barrel: Contains the mainspring.
• Bezel: Ring around the crystal; can be functional (e.g., diving scale).
• Bracelet: Metal link watch band.
• Bridge: Holds movement parts in place over the mainplate.
• Buckle: Fastens the strap (e.g., ardillon or deployant clasp).

C

• Caliber: Designation or reference of a watch movement.
• Case: Outer housing of the watch.
• Case Back: Rear of the case, can be solid or transparent.
• Chronograph: Stopwatch function with start/stop/reset pushers.
• Chronometer: COSC-certified precision timepiece.
• Complication: Any function beyond hours/minutes/seconds.
• Crown: Sets time/date; winds the watch. Screw-down versions help water resistance.
• Crystal: Transparent cover over the dial (acrylic, mineral, or sapphire).

D

• Dial: Watch face where time and complications are displayed.
• Diver's Watch: Built for underwater use, with high water resistance and rotating bezel.

E

• Ébauche: Partially assembled movement to be finished by another manufacturer.
• Escapement: Regulates energy release; produces ticking sound.
• Exhibition Case Back: Transparent back showing movement details.

F

• Flyback Chronograph: Resets and restarts stopwatch with one press.

G

• Geneva Stripes: Decorative stripes on luxury movements.
• GMT: Second timezone display (24-hour hand).
• Guilloché: Fine engraved pattern often found on dials.

H

• Hacking Seconds: Stops seconds hand for precise time setting.
• Hairspring: Regulates oscillation of balance wheel.
• Hand-Wound Movement: Needs manual winding to operate.
• Horology: The craft/science of watchmaking.
• Hour Markers: Indices or numerals on the dial.

J

• Jewels: Synthetic rubies reducing friction in moving parts.

L

• Lugs: Connect case to strap/bracelet.
• Lume: Glows in the dark—applied to hands/indices.

M

• Mainplate: Base of the movement.
• Mainspring: Stores energy to power the watch.
• Manufacture: Brand that makes in-house movements.
• Moon Phase: Shows current phase of the moon.
• Movement: Internal engine driving the watch.

P

• Perlage: Decorative pattern of overlapping circles.
• Perpetual Calendar: Adjusts automatically for month lengths/leap years.
• Power Reserve: Time watch runs fully wound.
• Pusher: Button used for complications (e.g., chronograph).

Q

• Quartz Movement: Battery-powered, ultra-precise movement.

R

• Rattrapante: Split-seconds chronograph with dual timing hands.
• Retrograde: Hand travels an arc and resets instantly.
• Rotor: Semi-circular weight winding automatic movements.

S

• Sapphire Crystal: Synthetic, scratch-resistant dial cover.
• Skeleton Watch: Movement is exposed, often decoratively finished.
• Small Seconds: Seconds shown on a separate sub-dial.
• Strap: Leather, rubber, or fabric band.
• Swiss Made: Indicates compliance with Swiss origin standards.

T

• Tachymeter: Measures speed over known distance.
• Tourbillon: Rotating cage improving accuracy by offsetting gravity.

W

• Water Resistance: Protection against water intrusion (e.g., 30m, 100m).
• Winding: Manual or automatic tightening of the mainspring.

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Need help choosing the right watch or learning more? Our team is here to guide you—just contact Watchello Support.