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AUTOMATIC 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.	CALENDAR Watch indicating the date, month and sometimes the year and the phases of the moon.	CALIBRE 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
CHRONOGRAPH 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.	CHRONOMETER 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.	COSC 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.
DIAMONDS 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.	FLY BACK FUNCTION 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.	GALVANIC COATING 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.
GMT 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.	GOLD 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.	MECHANICAL 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.
MOON PHASE An indicator that keeps track of the phases of the moon. Once set, the moon phase indicator accurately displays the phases of the moon.	MOTHER OF PEARL 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.	POWER RESERVE FUNCTION A feature that shows how much energy the watch’s automatic or mechanical movement currently contains.
PVD 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.	QUARTZ 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.	ROTATING BEZEL 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.
SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL 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.	SCREW DOWN CROWN A crown that can be screwed into the case to make the watch watertight. Mainly found on divers’ watches.	STAINLESS STEEL 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.
SWISS MADE 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”	TACHOMETER 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.	TELEMETER 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.
TITANIUM 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.