Exploring the Essential Parts of a Watch

Watches can help you be on time for meetings and social events, but that’s far from their only function. Beyond telling time, a high-quality watch serves as a status symbol.

The ability to afford high-quality craftsmanship and enduring, long-lasting timepieces is an elite and highly-coveted way to spruce up any professional or casual outfit. But you’ll need to know the essential parts of a watch to keep your timepiece in top shape, so read on for a complete and easy-to-understand watch parts guide.

The Face

The face of a watch is also known as its “dial.” Many people consider this the most important part of watch anatomy because it’s what tells time.

The watch face can be made from a wide range of materials. Luxury watches usually use metal like gold, silver, or stainless steel. Faces come in a wide range of colors including shining yellow gold, red steel, or blue-tinged metal.

In addition to the metal with numbers etched into it, the watch face holds the hands that point to these numbers. Usually, three hands tell the user the hour, minute, and second. This makes the watch do its job of keeping you on time.

The Crystal

Watch faces are delicate because of their small parts. Without protection, knocking your wrist against something could badly scratch and mar the face. You might even knock the hands off your watch.

That’s where the watch crystal comes in! This crystal is the case that covers the top of the dial. It’s a thick protective layer that serves as a case to protect against dirt and water as well as normal wear and tear.

Several different varieties of watch crystal aren’t actually made from crystal. Acrylic glass and mineral glass are frequently used on low-end watches or timepieces made for children.

However, most high-end Swiss watches fo use an actual sapphire crystal. Its clarity and durability make it a highly-coveted feature since it’s a nine on the Mohs hardness scale. Plus, since it’s scratchproof and glare-resistant, you won’t need to worry about struggling to see the face.

The Bezel

A watch’s bezel is the metal border that frames the face. This ring is a protective measure that keeps the crystal and aesthetically pleasing frame for your watch’s interior.

The dial of the watch lays on the bezel’s side, so it’s a functional watch part as well as an eye-grabbing feature. Most bezels are made from stainless steel, gold, silver, or ceramic. These metals come in multiple different colors and frequently have textures engraved into them.

Whether you choose a smooth, sleek bezel or something with raised bumps or patterns, this watch part is the most immediately noticeable part of the face for most people.

The Crown

When we talk about the side of a bezel, we’re referring to something called a “crown.”

The crown of the watch sits on the sides of a watch case and has an attached dial. Turning this dial alters the time. You can use it to move each hand to the perfect place.

This is especially important for those who change time zones or have battery-operated watches that can slow down or speed up randomly. If your watch has a calendar on its face, the dial can change the date as well.

The Bracelet

While pocket watches were popular in the past, modern watchmakers create timepieces that go around the user’s wrist. This makes them easier to quickly glance at and convenient to carry. It also means that you can show your quality watch off more easily and let people know that you have good taste.

The bracelet, also known as the band, makes all this possible. It’s usually made from durable metal on Swiss watches and other high-end styles.

You can adjust it to the size of your wrist and securely fasten it to your skin or sleeve.

The bracelet is secured onto the bezel with something called a “lug,” which is basically a projection on the side of the case. The bracelet loops through the lug to keep the case and bracelet in one piece.

Parts of a Watch That Work: The Movement

Understanding watch mechanisms means knowing how the watch functions as well as its appearance. The movement is an internal mechanism that moves the hands and face and serves as the powerhouse of your watch. It also powers other features like chronographs and annual calendars.

Without a movement, your watch would not be functional. There are a few common types of movements:

• Automatic movements, which are generated by the wearer as their wrist moves throughout the day because of a rotor powering the mainspring with these movements
• Mechanical movements, which are charming and nostalgic options that the wearer manually winds up with a clockwise winding mechanism
• Quartz movements, which are modern and efficient solutions powered by a battery’s electrical pulses and currents

Automatic movements are most watch aficionados’ dreams. They’re the most common movement type for Swiss watches. However, all of them have their advantages, so you’ll want to talk with experts at the C.R. Time Company if you’re struggling to make a decision.

The Battery

If you choose a quartz movement, your watch must contain a battery in order to work. These popular options have been around since 1957 and persist because of their easy use and inexpensive mechanisms.

The battery sends a current to the movement of the watch that makes it tick. When the battery dies, it needs to be replaced so that the watch can continue to tell time accurately.

Batteries tend to last about 18 months before requiring replacement, which is fortunately an inexpensive solution to any power-related issues.

Watch Components Explained: Beyond the Basics

Now that you know the essential parts of a watch, it’s time to begin ordering watch supplies online. The C.R. Time Company is committed to offering a wide range of watch parts including batteries, movements, diamonds, and beyond.

We’re excited to help you find the parts necessary to repair your favorite timepiece, so contact us with any questions you have and begin shopping ASAP.