RAFICHOWDHURY

 Watch Parts 101: An Introduction to the Basic Parts of a Watch     

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Are you planning to make your own watch but don’t know the basic parts of a watch and where to start? First things first, you won’t be able to make one if you don’t know its basic components. Oftentimes, we wear a watch without even knowing its parts, even just the basic ones, and what these parts actually do.

A basic watch is comprised of more than a hundred segments. Artisans all over the world, design and put together numerous watch parts to come up with a work of art.

 

Having a basic understanding of its components can help you in selecting a preferred style, framework, and brand of your future watch. As you start collecting your new masterpiece, it’s best to familiarize yourself with the basic terminology and different functions. 

Here are the 12 basic parts of a watch you should know.

1. Case

This is one of the most vital components of a watch. A case refers to the overall housing of a watch. Components can either be metal, plastic, or ceramic. High-end watches have gold, stainless steel, platinum, or silver case. 

The watch case holds its inner components and serves as a vital structure. The case comes in various textures such as smooth, matte, or polished, depending on the style of your watch. 

2. Bezel

This refers to the surrounding ring of the watch dial. A bezel ensures the crystal part of a watch in place. The crystal can either be decorative, plain, or functional (for dive watch).  The bezel can be adjusted as well depending on what function. 

3. Crystal

The crystal part of a watch allows the user to see its interior clearly while at the same time protecting it. It covers the watch dial. It can either be sapphire, plastic, or glass. Current watches use sapphire crystal since it is sturdier and scratch-proof. 

4. Movement

The caliber or watch “movement” is the process that powers your watch for it to work. The movement itself is the powerhouse of your watch. It is generally called the heart and brain. The caliber/movement is one of the essential parts of a watch. 

5. Dial

It is the face of a watch that shows the time. It displays the numeric digital style if your watch is a digital type, regardless if it’s a 12-hour or 24-hour time display. For analog watches, the dial shows hour markers, which can either be in Roman or Arabic numerals. The hands of a watch consist of the second, minute, and hour display. 

6. Hands

This is by far the easiest part of a watch to recognize. The hands are often thin sticks that point to the number markers to show the time. The hour hand is shorter compared to the minute hand, and the thinnest hand is the second. 

7. Hour Markers

These are the indexes or labels on the watch dial. They are often actual numbers 1 to 12 to suggest the time. Arabic or Roman numerals are the most common hour markers. 

8. Crown

If you see a small knob on the side of your watch, then that’s the crown. It has different functions which include stopping the watch to save power (for battery-powered watches) or manually winding your mechanical watch

A crown can also be used to change the time or date and day in your watch. It is oftentimes screwed into the case for water-resistant watches. 

9. Pushers

This part controls some functions or your watch, such as stopping or starting a chronograph. A pusher can either be one or two that lies beside the watch crown. The pushers are designed to set certain advanced functionalities. Moreover, the design varies depending on the type of watch. 

10. Lugs

These are the “horns” of a watch. Lugs are the tiny metal attachment that secures and connects the watch case to the straps. The lug design varies depending on the strap, and it can either be stylish or plain. It is also important for you to know the measurement of your watch’s width. This is needed when ordering a new strap. To measure, you will need a caliper that measures the width of your lug. You can measure the width in the space between the lugs. 

11. Strap

Perhaps this is the most fun-to-play-around part of a watch. You can change the strap to any style or design you want. The strap secures the watch to your wrist to prevent it from falling off. It can either be made from crocodile skin, calfskin, metal, gold, stainless steel, or titanium. There are other choices as well like rubber, nylon, or satin. 

Conclusion

Whether you want to create your own watch or you’re just simply curious about Basic Parts of a Watch, understanding its basic components is beneficial. It can also be your basis if you wish to purchase watch parts for sale either online or in a physical shop. The parts written here are just the basic ones, but they play a huge role for your watch to work. 

References: 

https://www.thewatchcompany.com/blog/watch-news-and-feature-articles/different-parts-of-a-watch/

https://www.jewelersmutual.com/the-jewelry-box/10-parts-watch-you-should-actually-know

https://bespokeunit.com/watches/watch-parts-guide/

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