An automatic is a mechanical watch whose mainspring
is wound as a result of the wearer‘s arm
motion. Instead of the wearer having to wind the
watch to generate power, the watch winds itself
„automatically“ when worn. |
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Watch indicating the date, month and sometimes
the year and the phases of the moon. |
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Watch indicating the date, month and sometimes
the year and the phases of the moon. Term referring to the type/dimensions of a watch movement e.g. men’s calibre, automatic calibre, etc |
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A chronograph watch has two independent time
systems i.e. one indicates the time of day and the
other short time intervals. The short time intervals
may be started and stopped independently
by means of a separate hand. There are separate
counters for seconds, minutes and hours. |
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The term „chronometer“ is a specific designation
of accuracy, assigned only to high-quality watch
movements that have undergone precision testing
at an official institute such as the COSC. |
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Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres(Official
Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) - a Swiss
testing laboratory that certifies watches, or rather
their movements, as „chronometers.“ Each movement
is individually tested over a 15-day period in
different positions and temperatures, and passes
only if it shows a loss of fewer than five seconds
per day. |
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Diamonds are classified by the 4 C’s, to determine
their value. Cut – the shape/proportion; Color
– grade of color which runs from D to Z, D being
the ultimate color grade for pure white diamonds;
Clarity – quality of the stone i.e. “clearness” of the
stone; Carat weight – unit of weight by which a
diamond is measured (0.2 g). Hamilton only uses
Top Wesselton VVS (grade G) full cut diamonds. |
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An additional seconds hand on a chronograph
which can be set to run simultaneously with
the other seconds hand, but which can also be
stopped independently. This enables the measurement
of laps or can determine finishing times for
several competitors in a race for example.
An alternative Fly Back Function method comprises
a hand that returns to the starting point and
restarts directly. |
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Refers to a process by which watches can be gold
plated. The plating is applied by electrolysis and
the thickness can be varied from 1 micron to 40.
The layers of gold range from 18k to 23k depending
on the final color effect desired. |
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Greenwich Mean Time is the global time system
that remains the same all year round. GMT in the
watch industry refers to a timepiece that shows two
different time zones on the dial at the same time. |
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A valuable, soft, yellow, corrosion resistant element,
the most pliable metal and yet one of the heaviest
substances known. It is too soft in its pure form
so it is therefore mixed with other metals to produce
an alloy; the proportion of gold in alloys is described
in carats. A carat is 1/24, that is 1 part in 24 by
weight. 18 carat is therefore 18/24 or 3/4 gold. |
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Mechanical movements are an intricate system of
tiny gears and springs which use mechanical energy
to operate. These watches have a mainspring,
which is wound by hand. The spring power is then
transferred to the hands of the watch via a precise
timing mechanism known as a balance. |
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An indicator that keeps track of the phases of the
moon. Once set, the moon phase indicator accurately
displays the phases of the moon. |
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A natural product, mother of pearl is the hard,
smooth, pearly, iridescent layers that make up the
inner surface of a pearl-producing mollusk‘s shell
such as pearl oysters, river mussels, and abalone
shells. Each dial made from mother of pearl has its
own unique shimmering colors. |
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A feature that shows how much energy the
watch’s automatic or mechanical movement currently
contains. |
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Physical Vapor Deposition is a method of plating
gold or other substances to a thickness of several
microns (1/1000ths of a millimeter) over a base
metal surface. Highly durable (close in durability to
sapphire crystal) and highly resistant to corrosion
it protects the watch from wear and tear, sea water,
sweat and the climate. |
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A mechanism which regulates time by sending an
electric current from a battery (which lasts several
years) to a tiny quartz crystal, which vibrates at
precise and predictable rates. Quartz movements
are superbly accurate and reliable with an annual
variation of only about one minute. Hamilton uses
only top end quartz movements. |
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This is the ring surrounding the watch face that
can be turned. Different types of rotating bezels
perform different timekeeping and mathematical
functions. It is most commonly found on diving
watches. |
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A very hard, transparent material made by crystallizing
aluminum oxide at very high temperatures.
Synthetic sapphire is the most expensive
glass crystal material as well as the most durable
and scratch resistant as it can only be scratched
by diamonds. |
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A crown that can be screwed into the case to
make the watch watertight. Mainly found on
divers’ watches. |
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An extremely durable alloy of steel and chromium
that can be polished to resemble a precious metal
and is virtually immune to rust, discoloration and
corrosion. Hamilton only uses 314L. |
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For a watch to be recognized as “Swiss Made” it
must have a Swiss movement (of which 50% of
the parts must be of Swiss origin), it must be set
into its case in Switzerland by a manufacturer of
Swiss origin. The manufacturer must carry out the
final inspection in Switzerland. If the case is not of
Swiss origin the inscription may not be visible on
the outside of the case – it must be concealed by
the case, but the case may instead be stamped
with the words “Swiss Movement” |
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A dial or bezel found on a chronograph watch
that measures the speed at which the wearer has
traveled over a measured distance e.g. kilometers
per hour or miles per hour. |
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A scale on the dial or bezel of a chronograph that
can be used in conjunction with the seconds hand
to measure the distance of an object from its observer
by measuring how long it takes sound to
travel that distance e.g. the distance of a storm
from its observer. |
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Titanium is a metallic element found in the earth’s
crust. It is 30% stronger and 50% lighter than
steel. Titanium watches are particularly durable,
resisting corrosion, especially salt water corrosion.
It is hypoallergenic and nickel-free and due
to its lightness very comfortable to wear. |
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