VINTAGE CHRONOS GERMANY
Watch Wiki
Watch Wiki
This glossary explains key terms from watchmaking, construction, technology, and the collector culture of mechanical wristwatches.
A
Acrylic Crystal Plexiglass
Acrylic glass used as a watch crystal.
Amplitude Balance wheel swing angle
Swing angle of the balance wheel in degrees. Healthy values typically range between 250–310°.
Automatic Movement Rotor-wound
Mechanical movement with a rotor that winds itself through wrist motion.
B
Bakelite Bezel Early synthetic resin insert
Early bezel insert made from synthetic resin.
Balance Spring Determines frequency
Spiral spring that determines the oscillation frequency of the balance wheel.
Balance Staff Balance wheel axis
Axle of the balance wheel.
Balance Wheel Oscillating heart of the movement
Oscillating heart of the movement.
Beat Error Tick-tock difference
Time difference between the tick and tock of a mechanical watch. Adjusted during regulation on a timing machine.
Beat Rate Vibrations per hour
Frequency of a movement (e.g. 28,800 vph).
Bezel Ring around the crystal
Ring surrounding the watch crystal.
Breguet Overcoil Improves isochronism
Hairspring with a raised terminal curve to improve isochronism.
Bridge Secures components
Movement plate that secures components in place.
C
Calibre Movement designation
Designation of a watch movement.
Cap Jewel Upper bearing jewel
Upper bearing jewel that secures the balance staff.
Center Seconds Seconds from the center
Seconds display from the center of the dial.
Chronograph Stopwatch function
Watch with a stopwatch function.
Chronometer Certified accuracy
Certified watch with tested timekeeping accuracy.
Cock Single-sided bearing bridge
Single-sided bearing bridge of the balance wheel.
Complication Additional function
Any function beyond basic timekeeping.
Crown Guards Crown protection
Protective extensions on the case around the crown.
D
Dial Display surface
Display surface of the watch.
Diver / Dive Watch Water-resistant + rotating bezel
Watch with enhanced water resistance and a rotating bezel.
Double Barrel Extended power reserve
Two mainspring barrels to extend the power reserve.
E
Endshake Axial play
Axial play of a wheel within its bearing.
Escape Wheel Meters out energy
Toothed wheel that meters out energy to the pallet fork.
Escapement Regulates energy release
System that regulates the release of energy.
ETA Movement Standardised Swiss movement
Standardised Swiss watch movement.
F
Fine Regulation Precision adjustment
Fine adjustment of timekeeping accuracy.
Finishing Decorative refinement
Decorative refinement of movement parts.
Flyback Instant chronograph restart
Chronograph function with instant reset and restart.
Full Wind Fully tensioned mainspring
State of a fully tensioned mainspring.
G
Gear Mesh Tooth engagement
Contact between two gear wheels.
Gear Train Wheel system
System of gear wheels within the movement that transmits power.
Geneva Stripes Côtes de Genève
Decorative stripe pattern on movement parts.
GMT Second time zone
Display of a second time zone.
H
Hacking Seconds hand stops
Stopping the seconds hand when the crown is pulled out for precise time setting.
Hairspring Fine spring of the balance
Fine spiral spring that regulates the balance wheel.
Hand Friction Friction in the hand drive
Friction between the hour wheel and minute wheel.
Hand-Winding Manual winding
Manually winding the watch via the crown.
Haute Horlogerie High watchmaking
High-end, complex watchmaking art.
Hour Markers Indices
Markers indicating the hours on the dial.
I
Incabloc Shock protection system
Shock protection system for balance jewels.
Isochronism Consistent oscillation
Consistent oscillation regardless of the state of wind.
J
Jewels Synthetic rubies for friction reduction
Synthetic rubies used to minimise friction at bearing points.
L
Lever Escapement Standard escapement
Standard escapement of modern mechanical watches.
Lift Angle Timing machine parameter
Parameter used for timing machine analysis.
Losing Rate Watch runs slow
Condition where the watch runs too slow.
Lug-to-Lug Total vertical length
Total length from lug tip to lug tip.
Lug Width e.g. 20 mm
Width between the lugs (e.g. 20 mm).
Lugs Strap attachment points
Protruding parts of the case for strap attachment.
Luminous Material Legibility in the dark
Material applied for legibility in the dark.
M
Main Plate Base plate of the movement
Base plate of the movement.
Mainspring Energy storage
Coiled spring that stores energy inside the barrel.
Mainspring Barrel Houses the mainspring
Container that houses the mainspring.
Manufacture Movement In-house development
Movement developed and produced in-house by the brand.
Micro-Rotor Integrated rotor
Integrated, miniaturised winding rotor.
Minute Repeater Acoustic time announcement
Complication that chimes the time acoustically.
Module Add-on mechanism
Additional mechanism mounted on a base movement.
Movement Engine of the watch
Mechanical or electronic engine that drives the watch.
Movement Height Thickness of a calibre
Vertical thickness of a calibre.
N
Neo-Vintage Late 1980s to 2000s
Watches from the late 1980s to the 2000s.
O
Oil Retention Keeping lubricant in place
Ability of a jewel bearing to retain lubricant.
Oyster Case Screwed-down components
Water-resistant case concept with screwed-down components.
P
Pallet Fork Impulse transmission
Component of the lever escapement that transmits impulses from the escape wheel to the balance wheel.
Pallet Stone Ruby on the pallet fork
Synthetic ruby set into the pallet fork.
Patina Natural ageing
Natural ageing of materials over time.
Perpetual Automatic designation
Brand designation for an automatic winding system.
Perpetual Calendar Automatic leap-year correction
Complication with automatic leap-year correction.
Pivot Axle end
End of a gear wheel axle that sits in the bearing.
Pivot Polishing Fine polishing
Fine polishing of pivots to reduce friction.
Polishing Case refinishing
Refinishing of the watch case.
Power Reserve Run time without winding
Duration a watch continues running without winding.
Q
Quartz Movement Electronic + battery
Electronic movement powered by a battery.
Quick-Set Date Direct date correction
Direct correction of the date via the crown.
R
Rate Deviation Seconds per day
Daily deviation measured in seconds.
Regulator Regulation unit
Unit that adjusts the effective length of the hairspring.
Rehaut Inner ring
Inner ring between the dial and the crystal.
Rotor Automatic winding weight
Semi-circular weight in an automatic movement.
S
Sapphire Crystal Scratch-resistant
Scratch-resistant crystal glass.
Screw-Down Crown Threaded for sealing
Threaded crown for water-tight sealing.
Shock Protection Protects delicate bearings
System to protect delicate bearings from impact.
Side Shake Lateral play
Lateral play of a gear wheel in its bearing.
Strap Attachment Case ↔ strap transition
Transition area between the case and the strap or bracelet.
T
Tachymeter Speed scale
Scale for measuring speed.
Timekeeping Accuracy Precision
Precision of a watch over time.
Torque Curve Power delivery profile
Profile of power delivery from the mainspring over time.
Tourbillon Reduces positional errors
Rotating cage to reduce positional errors caused by gravity.
Tritium Former luminous material
Former radioactive luminous material.
Two-Tone Bicolour finish
Two-colour finish (e.g. steel/gold).
V
Vintage Approx. 20–25+ years old
Watches older than approximately 20–25 years.
W
Water Resistance Metres / bar
Rating given in metres or bar.