Journal

It’s not the size that counts—it’s what you do with it: an adage as true for sports cars as it is for watches.

When it’s time to buy a watch, you may find yourself asking, “Is my wrist big enough?” or “Is my wrist too big?” First, we’d like to reassure you that, while there may be particular styles that work better for you than others, your wrist can’t be too big or too small for a watch. However, knowing what size wrist you have is necessary to understand what watch style will look best on you.

We are here to answer those questions for those wondering what the average wrist size is and how their own wrists measure up. We’re also going to teach you how to measure your wrist and give some tips on how to pick the right watch for your wrist size. Read on to learn about wrist size and how your newfound knowledge can help you find your next watch.

How To Measure Your Wrist 

Before we address where your wrist fits on the size spectrum, let’s teach you how to measure your wrist. There are a couple of ways to do this—one requires a tape measure, and the other requires a ruler, a length of string, and a marker or pen.

While it doesn’t matter which wrist you wear your watch on, it does matter which one you measure—while your wrists are probably very similar in size, they can be slightly different, so you want to measure the wrist on which you’ll be wearing your watch.

Tape Measure 

This is the easiest method, but it requires a tape measure. While you could potentially use the thin metal tape measure that you’d find in a toolbox, it’s definitely easier and more accurate to use the soft, flexible cloth type used by tailors.

1.  Place one end on your wrist and wrap the tape around.
2.  Read the measurement where the tape meets itself.

Ruler and String 

 If you don’t have a measuring tape, you can also use a regular ruler, a piece of string, and a marker or pen. Ideally, use a string that’s about a foot (or 30 cm) long—you don’t want it to be too long, but a bit of length will make this much easier.

1. Wrap the string around your wrist, making sure that the string isn’t slack. If the string isn’t snugly around your wrist, your measurement won’t be accurate.
2. Using the marker or pen, mark the string at the point where the end meets.
3.  With a ruler, measure the length of the string from the end to the marking (make sure you measure from the correct end!)

That’s it! Knowing the measurement of your wrist, you can now see where you fall compared to the average. Read on!

Wrist Sizes 

Once you’ve measured your wrist, you can compare it to these general sizes and see how it measures up:

•  6-inch wrist or smaller – considered small
• 7-inch to just under 8-inch wrist – considered average
•  8-inch wrist and larger – considered large

How To Pick The Right Watch For Your Wrist 

No matter what size your wrist is, never fear—there are plenty of watches that are perfect for you. You just need to know how to shop for your wrist size.

When it comes down to it, the best watch for you is the one that you feel comfortable wearing. Your watch should suit your individual style and boost your confidence.

That said, there are some things to keep in mind:

Watch Case Diameter 

Watch cases come in a variety of sizes, and a tiny watch case might look a little out of place on a large wrist. On the other hand (pun intended), a large watch case might look enormous on a small wrist. Try and look for a watch case that’s proportional to your wrist. In general, a thicker wrist will look better with a larger watch case, and a thinner wrist will look better with a smaller one.

Watch Case Thickness 

Just as the watch case’s diameter is an essential factor in buying the right watch for your wrist size, the thickness of the case can mean the difference between a proportional watch and one that sticks out—literally. If you have a thinner wrist, try a thinner watch case; if you have a thicker wrist, try a thicker one.

As for how watch cases measure up in the industry:

•  6mm-8mm – considered thin
• 8mm-12mm – considered average
• 14mm-18mm – considered thick

Watch Face Details and Complications 

Any watch enthusiast will tell you that there are countless styles of watches—some with large features and multiple complications and some with basic, subtle qualities. While the style of your watch is up to you, a simpler, more classic field watch will have a slimmer, more streamlined look than a highly technical sports watch.

Remember: none of these rules are hard-and-fast, life-or-death need-to-dos. Feel free to go against them in favor of your own style—fashion’s a nebulous thing, and whether you’re able to pull off a style choice usually comes down to how confidently you wear it.

How To Measure Your Strap 

If you have a watch band that you want to measure, keep these tips in mind for taking down the measurements—doing so can help you figure out if your existing watch is the right fit or if you need to take it in to have it resized.

•  Measure from the inside edge of the buckle to the other end of the strap
•  If it’s a 2-piece strap, measure both sides separately and add the measurements together
•  If it’s a 1-piece strap, use the same process—measure the whole strap from the inside edge of the buckle to the other end of the strap

To know if a strap is going to fit your wrist, you have to measure the minimum and maximum length of your strap

•  Minimum Length: measure from the inside edge of the buckle to the first hole in the strap
•  Maximum Length: measure from the inside edge of the buckles to the last hole in the strap

How To Resize Your Watch 

Many wristwatches have adjustable straps that are easy to fit to your wrist—straps made of leather, silicone, or fabric are usually pretty customizable.

However, watches with metal bands are a little more complicated when it comes to altering the fit. These metal straps are usually made to fit a specific wrist size. If your watch is too small or large for your wrist, don’t worry—you can always get it resized, or you can always get a new watch band if need be.

It’s possible to resize your watch on your own at home, but doing so requires a set of specialty tools that the average person probably doesn’t have in their toolbox—like special push pins (not the bulletin board kind) and a jewelry hammer. Check out our guide on how to alter your metal watch band if you’d prefer to tackle the task on your own.

If you don’t have jeweler’s tools and don’t want to have to purchase any, it’s much easier to bring your watch to a watch and jewelry repair shop and pay a professional to take care of the resizing for you.

Another option is to buy your watch from a watchmaker that makes it easy to change out the strap at a moment’s notice. All Jack Mason watch straps are easily interchangeable—from the more casual fabric and cork straps to our luxury leather straps.

It’s Not The Size…

Ultimately, the size of your wrist doesn’t matter much (unless you’re an Olympic volleyball player). Even when choosing the perfect watch for you, there is no rule that can’t be bent or broken. But just like in grammar and music theory, it’s important to know the rules first—so you can break them with intention.

If you have a small wrist and want to wear a bold, large watch, go right ahead; if you have a large wrist and prefer a slim and subtle timepiece, don’t let us stop you. The best watch for you is the watch that makes you look and feel your best when it comes down to it.

At Jack Mason, we believe that your watch should reflect your individual style while also lasting a lifetime. That’s why all of our watches come with a lifetime warranty. And with a host of options, from casual field watches to more formal dress watches, there’s something in our collection for every person in every situation. But don’t take our word for it; explore what we have to offer and see for yourself. We’re sure that Jack Mason has the right watch for you—no matter what size your wrist is.

Sources:

How to Measure Your Wrist to Get Your Body Frame Size | Live Strong

6 Essential Ways To Start Dressing With Confidence | Lifehack

Why It’s Necessary to Learn the Rules Before You Break Them | Lifehack

Whether worn on the wrist of everyone’s favorite British spy or the first man on the moon, a unique watch can make quite the statement and set trends for decades to come. Some of the world’s most fashionable watches achieved their popularity by their proximity to fame; people wanting to wear a tuxedo and order a martini—shaken, not stirred—need to have the appropriate wristwatch to go with the ensemble.

On the other hand, while some timepieces have obtained their elite status through high-profile product placement, others need no introduction. These watches, meticulously crafted by well-known luxury watchmakers, draw their exclusive appeal from the brand names inscribed on their dials—names like Rolex, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille…the list goes on.

While some watches gain prominence because of their association with fame, and others maintain a high profile due to their manufacturers’ reputation, one thing is undeniable: a unique watch is a priceless addition to any watch enthusiast’s collection.

Here are some of our favorite unique watches that have captured the attention of collectors throughout history.

The Name’s Submariner—Rolex Submariner. 

Rolex should be applauded not only for crafting a high-quality luxury watch but also for their skill at marketing and product placement.

The luxury watchmaker released their first water-resistant watch, the Oyster, in 1926—and they knew to get it onto the wrist of Mercedes Gleitze, the first British woman to swim the English Channel. The swim lasted for over 10 hours, and when Gleitze made it to dry land, the Oyster was still in perfect working order.

Likewise, when Rolex released the Submariner, another dive watch, their design found itself on the big screen, famously accessorizing Sean Connery’s James Bond.

While some watch collectors had bought up dive watches before the 007 movies, the Submariner’s popularity skyrocketed after Dr. No, the first Bond movie that featured the classic timepiece. It also appeared with Connery in From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball—and the watch is now so closely associated with the fictional secret agent that it’s referred to as the James Bond Submariner.

Because of the watch’s place in Hollywood history (and people’s desire to be compared to James Bond), Submariners fetch a very high price. In 2018, a Submariner 6538 with a rare dial design sold for $1,068,500, making it the most expensive Rolex Submariner ever sold at auction. Today, you can find secondhand Submariners online, starting at around $20,000.

If you want a dive watch to pair with your shaken martini but can’t afford the premium price tag of a Rolex Submariner, check out Jack Mason’s stunning Seatrek Automatic—a classic-looking dive watch with modern capabilities. Its movement is a Seiko (SII) Caliber NH35A, which houses 24 jewels and has a power reserve of 41 hours. This beautiful timepiece features dual-colored Swiss Super-Luminova® markings for high legibility—so you can easily read the time, even if you’re in high-speed, underwater pursuit of a brilliant supervillain.

A Watch For Astronauts 

Highly specialized watches have found themselves on the wrists of adventuring professionals, such as pilots and racecar drivers. Still, very few timepieces have had the privilege of joining their wearers in outer space.

Enter the Moonwatch. Officially the Omega Speedmaster Professional, this watch got its nickname for being the first watch on the moon. NASA had provided Speedmasters (also called Speedies) to the crew of the Apollo 11 mission before takeoff.

In addition to the Omega, Rolex, Longines, and Hamilton all submitted their hopeful designs. NASA engineer James H. Ragan performed a series of rigorous tests on all of the watches to assess their ability to handle deep-space elements. The Speedmaster outperformed them all. 

Featuring a signature black dial, a small seconds sub-dial, a 30-minute recorder, and a 12-hour recorder, this deceptively simple-looking timepiece came with many valuable tools so that astronauts could stay safe while far, far away from home.

The 50th anniversary of the lunar landing was just a few years ago, and a first-generation Speedy from 1958 sold for almost $410,000—an astronomical price (sorry, we had to) that indicates that many of today’s watch collectors care more about functionality and history than simple luxury.

The World’s Most Expensive Watch

Held in Geneva, Switzerland every other year, Only Watch is a high-profile luxury watch charity auction that features unique watches made by the world’s finest watchmakers. Each piece sold at Only Watch is one-of-a-kind, making this event a watch collector’s mecca—as long as those collectors are able to pay the exorbitant prices fetched by these unique timepieces.

Luc Pettavino founded the event in 2005. That year, Pettavino’s son had developed Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a horrible disease that eventually took his life. Since its inception, Only Watch has raised millions of dollars to benefit research on the disease, with 100% of the proceeds from the event going to this cause.

While these watches are well out of the price range of most collectors, their uniqueness can’t be denied—and we have to mention their top seller: the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime.

This unique timepiece sold at Only Watch 2019 for $31 million—the highest price paid for any watch ever sold at auction. 

This watch was crafted specifically for Only Watch and is the only Grandmaster Chime that will ever be made in stainless steel. With four spring barrels driving 20 complications—including a minute repeater, instantaneous perpetual calendar with a four-digit year display, second time zone, day/night indicator, day/date, month, leap-year cycle, and many more—this is an exquisitely designed wristwatch, and the most complicated watch that Patek Philippe has ever produced. And just to remind admirers that this watch is one-of-a-kind, there’s an inscription on the dial that reads: “THE ONLY ONE.”

This is an especially sought-after timepiece because this kind of Patek Philippe watch has never been made available for purchase by the broader public. In the past, Grandmaster Chime watches have been considered “application timepieces,” which means that collectors need to submit an application to Patek Philippe in order to prove themselves worthy of owning one.

A Prototype of Olympic Proportions

Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille has a knack for crafting timepieces that combine sportiness with luxury; their uniquely-shaped watches are sought-after for their exceptional performance and distinctive style.

Yohan Blake, a Jamaican sprinter, was the original wearer of Richard Mille’s RM038. This famous watch would later appear at the Only Watch auction.  

Blake won the gold medal for the 100m at the 2011 World Championships, making him the youngest 100m world champion in history, and would place second at the London Olympics for both the 100m and 200m races. As Blake became the second-fastest man ever in both races, he sported an iconic Richard Mille prototype that was sporty, fashionable, and eye-popping.

At Only Watch 2013, Richard Mille offered the prototype that Blake had worn across the finish line. Bright and flashy, the sports luxury watch featured the yellow, green, and white of the Jamaican flag. Artfully displayed in a magnesium case, the prototype movement is completely visible, showing the timepiece’s inner workings in all their Olympian glory.

So Many Unique Watches, So Little Time 

While having millions of dollars in spending money certainly has its benefits, you don’t need to be a millionaire to own a high-quality wristwatch. There are countless models on the market that are made with painstaking care—but that don’t come with an unimaginable price tag.

At Jack Mason, we create watches that are able to be worn every day while lasting a lifetime—and they come with a lifetime warranty to prove it. We offer this warranty because we are confident that our watches come second to none. The Jack Mason watches are made from top-quality materials, including Japanese and Swiss movements, sapphire crystals, and Italian leather straps.

And because we believe that premium watches should be affordable to everybody, we make sure to offer Jack Mason watches at a reasonable price. Nobody should have to pay $31 million for a watch that they love—so our collection is full of exquisitely crafted watches that don’t break the bank.

Like James Bond’s Submariner, all Jack Mason watches are water-resistant, allowing them to be taken underwater. And while we haven’t submitted any offerings to NASA just yet, we hope that a Jack Mason Pilot Watch will someday fly among the stars. For now, we’re very happy with our unique collection—and we think you will be too.

Sources:

How Sean Connery Turned a Regular Rolex Into “The Bond” | GQ

Omega’s Moonwatch Enters the Stratosphere | The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Meet The World’s Most Expensive Watch: $31 Million Patek Philippe Sets World Record At Only Watch Auction | Forbes

The Most Unique Watches In The World: Only Watch | Forbes

Watches are incredible devices. They’re the perfect blend of fashion and function—providing a stylish accessory to any outfit while also allowing their wearers to tell the time with a subtle glance at their wrists.

That’s why it can be frustrating to pick up one of your favorite timepieces only to see that its hands have stopped turning. In order to accurately tell the time, you now need to reset the watch to the correct time and wind it so that it maintains enough power to keep running.

While this isn’t necessarily the most labor-intensive of tasks, it can take time out of your day. Luckily, there are devices on the market that allow you to set your watch down and not worry about having to rewind it when you pick it back up. These devices are called automatic watch winders, and they can be a valuable addition to any watch enthusiast’s collection.

How do automatic watch winders work, and do you really need one? While we won’t tell you what you do and don’t need to (that’s up to you), we’re here to tell you how these devices work—but first, let’s talk about the devices that they maintain: watches.

Mechanical Watches 

The first watches were purely mechanical. With a complex series of simple (and tiny) machines, watch movements were composed of many moving parts that worked together to keep time. These early watches weren’t incredibly accurate, but they were more convenient than searching for a clock tower or asking a stranger to check the clocks in their home. These were the days before wristwatches, when the pocket watch was the only portable timepiece available.

Over the course of centuries, timepieces were engineered to be more accurate, but they were still completely mechanical—and these miniature mechanical marvels were made possible by the invention of one component: the mainspring.

The Mainspring

The mainspring is a tightly-wound, ultra-thin strip of metal that provides all of the power for a mechanical watch (you can think of it as the watch’s engine). The mainspring operates inside with the help of the mainspring barrel—a tiny canister that keeps the mainspring tightly wound and prevents it from releasing tension all at once.

The mainspring is connected to the crown of the watch. The crown is the knob that you use to wind your watch (or to move the watch’s hands). With a mechanical watch, when you twist the crown, it, in turn, increases the tension of the mainspring.

While the mainspring barrel keeps the mainspring from unwinding all at once, it does allow tiny amounts of tension to be released gradually. As tension is released, the mainspring provides power to the various wheels inside the watch. Some of these wheels are attached to the watch’s hands—as they turn, so do the hands.

A collection of parts know as the escapement controls the gradual release of the mainspring’s power. The escapement is composed of the pallet fork and the escape wheel.

The Pallet Fork and Escape Wheel 

The pallet fork and escape wheel work in tandem to allow power to flow from the mainspring in tiny, measured increments. As power is released, the pallet fork ticks back and forth, locking into an escape wheel tooth with each swing. As the pallet fork slips free, the escape wheel moves forward ever so slightly. As the escape wheel turns, so do the other wheels of the watch.

As long as there is mainspring power in the watch, this process keeps repeating.

Have you heard that it’s impossible to improve upon the wheel? Well, it’s pretty hard to improve on the watch, too! It’s endlessly fascinating that such simple machines from long ago are still the basis upon which we craft the modern watch. 

The One Problem With Mechanical Watches

Mechanical watches are undeniably incredible, but they come with limitations. Because they’re purely mechanical, these watches need to be wound frequently to maintain accuracy. If you don’t wind your mechanical watch, the mainspring will gradually run out of power, and the watch will slow and eventually stop. Of course, once you rewind your watch, power will return to the mainspring, and the watch will start working again.

But what if you don’t want to have to wind your watch constantly? This was the question that led watchmakers to invent other types of watch movement: quartz and automatic.

• Quartz – the most modern type of watch movement, quartz movements rely on a battery rather than a mainspring to power the watch. Because of this, these watches are often much simpler than mechanical watches—they don’t need as many moving parts because so many of the watch components’ tasks only rely on a single battery. With a quartz watch, you don’t need to wind the watch at all—the battery keeps it running.
  
  
• Automatic – very similar to mechanical watches in almost every way, automatic watches have many of the same components as mechanical watches. However, the big difference is in the watch’s ability to wind itself as its wearer moves.

How Do Automatic Watches Work? 

Similar to a mechanical watch, automatic watches rely on a mainspring to power the watch’s other components. The tightly wound mainspring gradually releases power through the escapement, and the watch’s wheels move in turn.

But instead of relying on the wearer of the watch to wind the mainspring using the crown, automatic watches have a specially designed rotor system that’s attached to the mainspring. As you walk, you swing your arms; as you swing your arms, the rotor inside the automatic watch spins around—winding the mainspring and providing power to the watch’s movement.

Why Do You Need An Automatic Watch Winder? 

At this point, you may find yourself asking, “if automatic watches wind themselves…why would I need an automatic watch winder?”

That’s a good question, and the answer comes down to how often you wear your automatic watch. If you wear it all the time, every single day, you may not need a winder. But suppose you occasionally take off your automatic watch and set it down, whether to switch to a different watch in your collection or to go watch-free for a couple of days (we don’t know how anybody can do that but to each their own)? In that case, you might find yourself with a problem.

Because automatic watches rely on your movement to wind themselves, they’re not quite self-winding—they still need you to wind the mainspring, even if they’re depending on your movement instead of your taking the time to twist the watch’s crown. A person’s natural movement in their day-to-day life can create enough spin in an automatic watch’s rotor to keep a watch running for around 35 to 45 hours.

So, if you leave your automatic watch on the shelf for a few days, you’ll have to wind it again to get enough power in the mainspring to make the watch work again.

Whether you have a mechanical watch or an automatic watch, it needs to be wound from time to time—and if you have multiple watches in your collection, it can be very tedious to have to constantly wind your timepieces by hand.

That’s where the watch winder comes in.

How Does A Watch Winder Work? 

Watch winders work by slowly rotating your automatic watch on a sideways turntable within a specialized case or device, eliminating the need to wind the watch by hand. As the winder rotates, the rotor inside the watch spins, slowly winding the mainspring.

Watch winders come in many different sizes. Some of the simpler models hold and wind one watch at a time. These single-watch winders can be a good option for beginner collectors who want to delve into the world of automatic watch winders.

For watch collectors with multiple automatic watches that they want to keep wound at all times, there are automatic watch winders that can hold several watches at once and keep each one spinning on an individual turntable. These cost substantially more than the simple single-watch winders, but they’re very handy for the experienced collector who doesn’t want to wind the mainspring and set the time whenever they put on a different watch.

While these watch winders aren’t necessary, they can make for highly useful tools in a watch enthusiast’s arsenal.

Winding Down 

Whether you’re a beginner watch collector or a longtime enthusiast, there are definite benefits to owning an automatic watch winder. It’s not necessary, but watch winders aren’t about necessity—they’re about improving quality of life. If you find yourself frustrated in the tedium of constantly winding your watches and resetting the time, an automatic watch winder might be the perfect solution to your problem.

Of course, if you enjoy the ritual of winding a watch by hand, that’s understandable—while watches are stylish accessories, they’re also tactile ones. It can be satisfying to take a moment to reacquaint yourself with your treasured timepiece, knowing that every twist of its crown is providing its mainspring with the power to get you through another day.

Sources:

6 Simple Machines: Making Work Easier | Live Science

History of Pocket Watches - Invention of Pocket Watch | History of Watch

What Is a Watch Mainspring and How Does It Work? | Bloomberg

In the beginning, there were no watches. Humans relied on the sun to tell the time, originally just by looking up and interpreting the orb’s position in the sky to understand how much light they had left in the day. The sundial was a more scientific way of relating the sun’s motion to the passage of time, and that was the primary way of telling the time until the invention of the clock in the 14th century.

As technology and human understanding of basic mechanics improved, clocks could be miniaturized—leading to the very first pocket watches. Pocket watches were trendy and elite instruments of timekeeping for hundreds of years, until the need for soldiers to hold onto their timepieces in the trenches of World War I led to the invention of the wristwatch.

In recent years, technological improvements have continued to make timekeeping more accurate, reliable, and stylish, but the basic mechanics of the watch have remained largely the same since its invention. While the inner workings of a watch’s movement can sometimes seem magical, they are fully mechanical.

These mechanics aren’t difficult to grasp, but a lot is going on inside the portable timepiece on your wrist (or in your pocket), and we’re here to help. Read on for a better understanding of how your watch keeps on ticking.

Mechanical, Automatic, and Quartz 

There are many different styles of watch, but they all fall under three different types of mechanisms, known as movements:

Mechanical 

A mechanical watch is composed of hundreds (if not thousands) of tiny parts and relies on a human hand. In order to keep it working, you have to wind it manually. This is the oldest of the movements, spanning centuries of watchmaking from the very first pocket watch to today, when many of the best watchmakers still manufacture and sell brilliantly crafted mechanical watch movements.

Automatic 

A much more modern invention, the automatic watch doesn’t need to be hand-wound; it contains a rotor, which captures the kinetic energy of a watch in motion (i.e., when you swing your arm as you walk), enabling the watch to wind itself.

Quartz 

Quartz watches are the most modern—and in some ways, the simplest—of these watch types. Also known as electric watches, quartz watches don’t rely on winding at all, instead using a battery to power the inner workings. Today, most watches have a quartz movement due to their low-maintenance, lightweight, and simple nature.

While the quartz movement is the most common today, we’re going to talk about the mechanics inside of mechanical and automatic watches—these watches are full of tiny little parts that work together to keep the time, and the way that they interact is nothing short of incredible.

The Crown 

The crown is the one mechanical part of the watch that you’ll end up touching the most—it’s the part that you use not only to wind the watch manually, but also to set the time. Push the crown in toward the movement to wind; pull the crown out to set the time.

There are a number of small parts that make the crown function:

• Setting Jumper – this has indents to keep the crown mechanism in place and can have multiple modes that engage different gear sets, allowing you to change the time or date separately.
  
  
• Sliding Pinion – this meshes with a set of gears connected to the mainspring, allowing the turning of the crown to wind the watch.
  
  
• Yoke – this moves the sliding pinions into connection with time-setting gears.

In an automatic movement, the mainspring doesn’t need the crown in order to stay wound—but the crown is still used for setting the time.

The Mainspring 

The mainspring is ultimately the driving force behind what makes a watch work. A thin, nearly foot-long strip of hardened metal coiled into a tight spring, the mainspring gradually releases tension as time goes on, powering all other moving parts inside the watch.

The mainspring is contained by the mainspring barrel, which keeps it tightly wound and prevents it from releasing tension all at once.

The mainspring is also connected to the crown’s winding pinion, which can only be rotated in one direction, keeping the mainspring from unwinding and making it so that power can only escape through the barrel.

When a watch is wound—either manually or automatically—power is stored in the mainspring to be released in measured increments.

The Wheel Train 

The wheel train drives the timekeeping hands and all of the associated gears (called “wheels”):

• The center wheel is driven by the mainspring barrel, rotating once per hour—this center wheel holds the minute hand.
  
  
• The third wheel allows power to flow from the previous wheels to the fourth wheel.
  
  
• The fourth wheel rotates once per minute—it holds the second hand.

Each wheel’s axle rests in a synthetic jewel bearing. These jewels are nearly frictionless, allowing the watch to run smoothly for decades.

Motion Works 

The motion works allows the watch hands to be freely rotated to set the time.

The motion works also performs a 12-1 speed reduction for the hour hand—taking the motion of the center wheel (which holds the minute hand) and using it to turn the wheel holding the hour hand once every 12 hours.

Escapement And Balance Wheel 

The escapement is composed of the pallet fork and the escape wheel.

The balance wheel swings in a precise rhythm, knocking the pallet fork back and forth. This allows the escape wheel to move, releasing mainspring power in small, measured increments.

The most fragile part of the watch, the balance wheel is supported by a shock absorbent mounting system with a jewel bearing and a capstone, protecting its sensitive parts from impact (like when a watch is dropped).

As the balance wheel knocks the pallet fork back and forth, each prong of the pallet fork—which holds a tiny jewel—locks into position against teeth in the escape wheel. As the pallet jewel slips free, the escape wheel tooth delivers an impulse of power from the mainspring through the pallet fork, launching the balance wheel into another swing.

This process repeats for as long as there is mainspring power in the watch.

Fun fact: the “ticking” sound that a watch makes comes from the jewels on each side of the pallet fork as they catch escape wheel teeth.

Supporting Structure 

In order for all of these parts to function, they must be contained and supported by various metal plates that hold the watch internals in place:

• The main plate serves as the base of the movement—all of the other pieces are supported by this main plate.
• The barrel bridge holds the mainspring barrel and its associated parts.
• The train wheel bridge supports the wheel train.
• The pallet bridge holds the pallet fork.
• The balance bridge supports the balance wheel and the regulator assembly

Putting It Together 

Countless tiny components are working in tandem to allow a watch to keep the time. When working together, the process is seemingly complex, but each component performs a simple action that causes another simple action to take place.

While it’s truly not necessary to understand how the individual parts of a watch’s movement actually work to appreciate the beauty and intricacy of a given watch, it can be very interesting to delve into the mechanics behind the functioning of these fascinating instruments.

Mechanical Watches Today 

Today, it’s much rarer to see a mechanical watch on somebody’s wrist than in previous generations. Due to the invention of automatic and quartz movements, many modern watch enthusiasts opt for the simpler, battery-operated quartz movements—or the clever self-winding capabilities of watches with automatic movements.

If you find yourself with a mechanical watch, don’t let it go; the sophisticated craftsmanship of these devices is without compare, and each is a valuable collector’s item in its own right.

Buy Your Next Watch From Jack Mason 

At Jack Mason, we have an extensive collection of watches that can suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for the lightweight efficiency of a quartz movement or you prefer the automatic movement for the intricate inner workings of the mainspring and its associated parts, we have plenty of functionally fashionable watches to choose from.

And because we believe that people should be able to own a stylish and timeless timepiece without breaking the bank, all of our watches are affordable without sacrificing appeal and long-lasting durability.

Check out our collection and see for yourself. We’re sure that you’ll find the perfect watch—and it won’t take long for you to see that our watches are greater than the sum of their parts.

Sources:

How does a self-winding watch work? | How Stuff Works

Are mechanical watches worth buying | Business Insider

How a Mechanical Watch Works | Youtube

Know Your Movements: What Makes Your Wristwatch Work | www.popularmechanics.com 

Also known as a diving watch or a diver’s watch, a dive watch is water-resistant. Many dive watches can withstand intense pressure and can be taken into deep waters, but none are truly “waterproof,” as the term implies that there are no circumstances under which they can leak. In the watch industry, we refer to a watch’s ability to hold up against water pressure as water-resistance.

In a water-resistant watch, one component stands between the delicate movement inside and the water surrounding it: a gasket. Typically made of rubber or silicone, this tiny O-ring forms a seal around the stem of a watch’s crown, pushers, and correctors. Over time, a gasket dries out and loses elasticity—so it’s a good idea to regularly have the water-resistance tested if you plan to take your watch into the water with you.

This wearing out of the gasket takes some time, however, and the gradual loss of water-resistance is no reason not to have a dive watch. They can be incredibly useful to have with you underwater, especially if you’re a regular swimmer, snorkeler, or scuba diver—and they can also make a stylish statement when on dry land.

The First Water-Resistant Watch

While there are records of early water-resistant watches being made for specific individuals in the 19th century, these were not offered to the general public. The first time that a water-resistant watch was manufactured with the public in mind was in 1926, when Rolex created the “Oyster,” a watch case that featured an airtight seal—preventing the watch from being damaged when submerged in water.

The following year, Rolex’s Oyster was successfully taken across the English Channel by an English swimmer named Mercedes Gleitze. The groundbreaking watch survived the journey, and Rolex still uses Gleitze’s name in publicity materials to this day.

Over time, other watch manufacturers would emulate Rolex’s innovative design, crafting similarly water-resistant models. This technological development was especially attractive to deep-sea fanatics in the middle of the 20th century, when recreational scuba diving became a widespread trend.

Dive Watches Today 

Today, there are countless options for picking out a dive watch—many more than when Rolex first released the Oyster. As a result, there are a number of rating systems that help consumers know how much water a given watch can withstand.

BARs Or ATM/Meters 

If you check the back of your watch, you’ll see a series of different words and numbers. When the watch is water-resistant, there will be marking that elaborates on just how water-resistant the watch is.

• 30m –A 30m marking means that the watch is water-resistant enough to withstand handwashing and rain showers, but you shouldn’t take it swimming or even into the shower.
  
  
• 50m – This indicates that the watch can withstand swimming and cold showers, but hot showers can make components of the watch expand, potentially allowing water to get into the instrument.
  
  
• 100m – This means that the watch can go for a swim or a snorkel, but you might not want to take it for a deep dive.
  
  
• 200m – A marking of 200m or higher indicates that the watch is indeed able to be taken diving.

These ratings can help you find a watch that suits your needs, but this isn’t the only rating system that can indicate just how water-resistant a watch is.

ISO – International Organization Of Standards 

Another rating system that measures the water-resistance of watches, the ISO (or International Organization of Standardization), has two primary standards:

• ISO 2281 Water Resistance Standard – this means that the watch is water-resistant but not capable of going diving.
  
  
• ISO 6425 Divers Watch Standard – this is the ISO standard for any watch that can withstand being submerged in deep waters.

IP Code Or IP Rating 

The most complex and in-depth rating system, the IP Code system, is overseen by the International Electrotechnical Commission—and it’s the most trusted system for rating a product’s water-resistance.

This code doesn’t only apply to watches, so anybody looking for water-resistant or waterproof electronics may very well find themselves researching IP codes and wondering what the various numbers mean.

An IP code will consist of the letters I and P, followed by two digits. The first digit indicates the protection from various solid objects—the higher the digit, the smaller the object (a rating of 6 indicates that the device is dust-tight). The second digit indicates the protection from water; again, the higher the number, the more protection.

A device with an IP code of IP23 is protected from solid objects larger than 12.5mm and is resistant to light sprays, while a device with an IP code of IP68 is dust-tight and capable of being submerged in up to 1.5m of water for up to 30 minutes.

Ideally, a dive watch will be water-resistant at all depths—and the best dive watches are.

For a deeper dive into water-resistance standards and measurements, check out our article on how to understand the different water-resistance rating systems.

Water-Resistant Materials 

In addition to the previously mentioned protective gaskets, many of the best dive watches feature straps made of high-quality metals like gold or silver, which—unlike leather straps—are naturally water-resistant.

Many dive watch manufacturers opt for silicone or rubber straps, which are also naturally water-resistant but often lighter in weight than metal straps. Silicone and rubber straps also deliver a casual, sporty look, which may be preferable for the modern scuba enthusiast.

Readability 

You’ll notice that many dive watches are relatively large in size and style. Originally, bulkier designs were necessary to contain the gasket and create a watertight seal. These days, their larger size is a feature that sets dive watches apart from typical field and dress watches.

Dive watches’ larger size also applies to the hands and details on the watch face, and often these details are designed to be bright and eye-catching—the larger the watch face and the more luminous the details, the easier it is to read the watch when submerged in deep waters.

Some Can Function As A Dive Computer

Also known as a personal decompression computer or a decompression meter, a dive computer is used to measure time and depth during a dive.

A dive computer provides real-time dive information—both depth and time information. It applies it to a decompression model to track the dissolved nitrogen in your body during a dive. A dive computer constantly measures this information as it relates to the diver’s body and tells them how much time they can remain safely submerged.

Dive computers, true to their name, are tiny electronic devices—and as such, most are much more digital in functionality and appearance. This is ideal for many divers, who want as many accurate details about their dive as possible—but for many diving enthusiasts who just want to be able to take their watch with them into the deep, these added features are unnecessary, and the digital appearance of the watch may not be the style that they’re looking for.

Athletic Functionality 

The best dive watches are made with the active wearer in mind. Because they’re water-resistant and built to withstand high amounts of pressure, you can expect to take a diving watch anywhere you need to go—even if it’s dozens of meters below the water’s surface. To make this easy, many dive watches are designed for quick and secure adjustment, allowing them to be worn over both a bare wrist and a wet suit, depending on the circumstance.

For example, our Seatrek Automatic features a diver’s bracelet extension with a micro-adjuster, allowing for quick and precise fitting to suit your every need. It can withstand depth pressure of up to 300 meters, which is more than enough for any recreational diver. And because it features an automatic movement, the Seatrek winds itself as you swim.

Buy Dive Watches From Jack Mason 

At Jack Mason, we offer several options for quality dive watches in both quartz and automatic styles. Whether you prefer the sporty look of a rubber strap or a more classic all-metal design, we have what you’re looking for.

All of our watches are crafted with ultra-durable sapphire crystal and either Swiss or Japanese movements, ensuring that whichever watch you choose is of the utmost quality. However, we believe that you don’t need to break the bank to own an attractive, high-quality watch, so all of our watches are comparable to other luxury brands in both functionality and style—but without the designer price tag.

Check out our collection and see for yourself. Whether you’re an active diver in need of a submersible timekeeping device or a watch enthusiast looking for an attractive dive watch to add to your collection, we have the perfect watch for you.

Sources:

Mercedes Gleitze - Person | NPG

ISO 6425:2018(en), Horology — Divers' watches | iso.org

What Is an IP Rating? | Enclosure Company

In our fast-paced world, time moves quickly—and so many of us run to keep up with the latest fashion trends when it comes to clothing and accessories. Watches are no exception; all the best modern watchmakers compete to offer their clientele the latest in technological advancements and contemporary styles.

But while countless people reach toward the future, many of us harken back to the past, when life was simpler and days were less hectic. For today’s watch enthusiast who longs for those simple days of yore, the answer to our troubles—and our timekeeping needs—is the pocket watch.

Why should someone carry around a watch in their pocket when modern watches are so convenient—riding our wrists and enabling us to check the time at a moment’s notice? There are many reasons why people these days are opting for pocket watches, and you don’t need to live in the 19th century to understand the benefits of these portable time-keeping devices.

If you’re wondering whether a pocket watch is right for you, or just looking for someone to assure you that it’s okay to carry one, we’re here to help. Read on for the reasons why you should—nay, must—own an antique pocket watch.

History Of The Pocket Watch 

Pocket watches have been around since the late 1400s when technological advancements in mechanical engineering made it possible to miniaturize clocks. Up until then, clockmakers had relied on swinging weights in order to power the inner mechanisms of their clocks—but with the invention of the mainspring, they were able to make small portable timepieces.

Locksmith Peter Henlein crafted the first spring-driven clocks, and is credited with inventing the portable timepiece (or watch, as we know it today). These tiny clocks were designed to be carried by hand, and were circular or oval in shape, and were originally called “Nuremberg eggs”—partly due to their shape and partly due to a mistranslation of the German word “Ueurlein” (little clocks) for “Eierlein” (little eggs).

While fascinating and desirable, these first watches were unreliable and inaccurate due to a number of reasons:

• Henlein’s little clocks originally featured only an hour hand, unlike today’s watches, some of which are able to tell time to the millisecond.
• Moving the device would impair their ability to keep accurate time (so much for portability).
• The tension in the mainspring was greater when fully wound than when it was almost run down, making the clock run faster when wound and slower as time went on.

The problem with mainspring tension would later be studied by Jacob Zech, a Swiss mechanic living in Prague. Around 1525, Zech developed a cone-shaped pulley known as a fusee. Along with a barrel, the fusee helped to house the mainspring and progressively increase its leverage as it ran down. This improvement made watches much more accurate than Henlein’s early devices and would pave the way for centuries of watchmakers to add improvements of their own.

The Pocket Watch in America 

Pocket watches were widely considered luxury items until the middle of the 19th century, when American-made pocket watches started to be mass-produced. There were still different classes of pocket watch, with the less expensive, lower-quality models made for sailors and other working-class people.

By the 1860s, American watchmakers were at the forefront of the industry. With the development of new machinery, leading watch manufacturer Waltham designed the Model 57—a watch composed of interchangeable parts that brought down the cost of manufacturing the devices. As a result, the company produced over 50,000 watches every year—and while they were machine-made, Waltham watches were still superior to most handmade timepieces.

The Railroad And The Watch

With the development of the railroad, pocket watches became the standard—allowing trains across the country to run safely and efficiently. This was due in large part to a world-famous train wreck that took place outside of Kipton, Ohio, on April 19, 1891. The wreck was blamed on one engineer’s watch, which had stopped running for four minutes, leading to a disastrous asynchronization between the two trains.

After the accident, Chief Time Inspector Webb C. Ball declared that watches used by railroad personnel had to meet strict Railroad Chronometer standards. In addition to several specific required inner mechanisms:

• Watches had to be open-faced
• They needed to be size 16 or 18
•  They needed a minimum of 17 jewels that were adjusted to at least five positions
•  They had to be adjusted to temperatures of 34-100 degrees Fahrenheit

Keeping Watch In The Trenches 

While pocket watches were wildly popular throughout the 19th century, they started to lose their appeal after WWI when the wristwatch came into fashion. Originally called the “trench watch,” the wristwatch was developed to help soldiers keep an eye on the time without putting down their weapons and to make it easier to hold onto their timepieces. It was much easier to lose a pocket watch on the battlefield than a watch attached to their wrists.

The wristwatch has been the standard watch since then, but there’s recently been a resurgence of pocket watch enthusiasts. Some people want to make a bold and nostalgic fashion statement, and others just like the way that that pocket watches look and feel.

The Three Styles Of Pocket Watch 

Pocket watches come in a variety of different styles. Some fully enclose the timepiece, so you must open the case in order to check the time, while others allow you to see the time without having to do anything other than taking the watch out of your pocket.

Full Hunter 

The traditional pocket watch style, the Full Hunter, features a spring-loaded outer casing, often ornately engraved with decorations or initials. To see the watch’s face, you pop the case open like a locket.

Half Hunter 

Unlike the Full Hunter, the Half Hunter’s clock face is visible through a glass or crystal window in the case—you don’t need to open the case to check the time.

Double Hunter

Arguably the fanciest of the three styles, the Double Hunter has many of the same features as a full hunter, with one addition: a lid that opens on the back of the watch, designed so that you can see the inner workings of the timepiece.

An added bonus of the Double Hunter is that the two hinged lids allow the watch to stand on its own, in case you want to take it out of your pocket and display it on your desk or another surface.

Ways of Wearing Pocket Watches

As any wristwatch wearer knows, there are only so many ways to sport a watch on their wrist: you can place it on your right wrist or your left, and you can keep the face of the watch facing out or in. There’s nobody keeping you from placing your wristwatch on your ankle, but you may get some funny looks when you check the time.

In contrast, there are many ways of wearing a pocket watch that can add to the stylishness of ensembles, both formal and casual. Similarly to the way that different tie knots and pocket square folds can add an element of flair to an otherwise basic suit, the way that a person wears their pocket watch can add a level of depth to their outfit that cannot be obtained with a standard wristwatch.

The chain attached to the timekeeping device allows for many options when it comes to displaying your pocket watch. Here are just a few:

Single Albert 

The most commonly used way to wear a pocket watch today, the Single Albert doesn’t require a pendant or a fob (a decoration on the end of the chain opposite the watch). Using this method, the watch goes into the vest pocket, and the other end of the chain gets attached to the middle button of the vest.

Double Albert 

A little fancier than the Single Albert, the Double Albert displays the chain in a showier fashion. Place the watch in one vest pocket, and place the other end of the chain into the opposite pocket, resting the center of the chain on the middle vest button.

Single Albert With A Drop 

Place the watch in a vest pocket, wrap the chain around the middle button, and leave the pendant or fob dangling from the button. This was popularized by Prince Albert—leading to the nickname for…a very different, far less formal use of a fob.

Fob Drop 

A simpler way of wearing the pocket watch while displaying the pendant on the other end of the chain, you simply put the watch in your vest pocket and leave the end of the chain dangling outside of the pocket.

Modern and Casual 

If you want to carry a pocket watch in the absence of a three-piece suit, worry not—there are plenty of ways to add a portable timepiece to your contemporary casual ensemble. Here are a couple of ideas:

• Clip the chain to a belt loop and place the watch in a pants pocket.
• Forgo the classic chain and wear the watch as a necklace to pay homage to ladies of the 1880s, who, not having functional pockets, often wore small watches from their necks.

In Conclusion 

The pocket watch is undoubtedly a bold fashion statement in today’s forward-thinking world. Carrying one indicates that you’re a person who enjoys a little stylish nostalgia—and that you don’t mind standing out from the crowd. While it may seem old-fashioned to some, the pocket watch is a part of our history as both watch enthusiasts and human beings, and they’re not going anywhere. Pocket watches are elegant, fashionable, and a cool way to pay homage to the past while time keeps ticking toward the future.

So if you find yourself asking, “why should I carry a pocket watch?” maybe you should instead ask, “why shouldn’t I?”

Sources

Peter Henlein | Encyclopedia.com

The Pocket Watch Primer | Gentleman's Gazette

How to Wear a Pocket Watch: 14 Steps (with Pictures) | Wiki How

How to Wear a Pocket Watch with Style - Trendhim.com

The wristwatch is one of those classic accessories that has been highly sought since its inception for both its stylishness and its usefulness. Being able to tell the time by glancing at one’s wrist is a technological marvel that many people take for granted these days—it’s easy to forget that such an action was barely possible a hundred years ago.

Today’s wristwatches can do a lot more than tell the time—and that’s especially evident in the existence of the chronograph watch.

Used by professionals at the top of their game, chronograph watches enable their wearers to make precise measurements in moments. Read on to see how chronometer watches can help make every second count.

What Is A Chronograph Watch? 

A chronograph watch is a specialized watch that features multiple stopwatch functions in addition to the traditional watch display. But its uses are many and have been utilized in a variety of ways since its groundbreaking creation.

History Of The Chronograph Watch 

The word “chronograph” is a combination of the Greek words “chronos” (time) and “graph” (writer)—so the literal translation of the word means “time writer.” This is because the first chronographs functioned by dropping ink onto a numbered wheel made of paper, allowing the user to measure an object’s distance traveled over a specific period of time.

The first chronograph was invented by Louis Moinet in 1816—he used the stopwatch to track the movement of stars in the night sky. The chronograph became more widely available a few years later, when King Louis XVIII requested that watchmaker Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec create a watch that would allow him to time horse races.

Chronographs wouldn’t be added as a feature on wristwatches until several decades later, in 1913, when Swiss watchmaker Longines created the first chronograph wristwatch. Like its predecessor, the Longines chronograph was designed to give its users an edge when betting on horse races.

As time went on, chronograph usage extended far beyond the racetrack—even helping British troops escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp in World War II. British corporal Clive James Nutting ordered a stainless steel Rolex Oyster Chronograph to be delivered to Stalag Luft III, where he was being held captive. Upon receipt of his new watch, Nutting began to time and track the movements of German soldiers on patrol; in doing so, he was able to plot an escape—an escape that would inspire the Steve McQueen film The Great Escape.

Houston, We Have A Chronograph 

The chronograph hasn’t just rescued people from Nazi POW camps; a century and a half after Louis Moinet invented the chronograph to help his observations of objects in outer space, astronauts on the disastrous Apollo 13 mission used a chronograph to get back to Earth safely. Coming up against hardships never experienced by prior spaceflight crews, the team onboard the Lunar Module had veered off-course. At the angle they were approaching Earth, they would be bounced back into space, unable to be recovered.

Knowing that he had a small window of time to operate in and a tiny amount of fuel left, Flight Commander James A. Lovell needed to precisely time a 14-second burn of fuel to correct the course of the Lunar Module. But due to the numerous complications during the mission, the crew had been forced to turn off most of the power on the module—so the onboard clock was not working.

Thinking quickly, Lovell used his Omega Speedmaster chronograph to time the precision operation, using the planet’s horizon to guide the maneuver. Lovell, his team, and the chronograph watch all made it safely back to the planet’s surface, and the rest is history (and the plot of a blockbuster movie).

After the Apollo 13 astronaut’s safe and successful return to Earth, the popularity of the chronograph watch exploded, and the specialized timepieces are still prized to this day.

Who Uses Chronograph Watches? 

The uses of chronographs aren’t limited to outer space travel or betting at the racetrack. Because a chronograph watch can be used for precision timing and measuring distance traveled over a period of time, these watches are very popular among competitive drivers and airline pilots, both of whom need to keep track of their speed and distance traveled at all times for the safety of themselves and others.

Cool Features Of Chronograph Watches 

When you begin really looking into chronographs, you’ll find all kinds of cool features like the following. 

1. Chronograph/Stopwatch

In addition to the traditional watch face, chronograph watches feature a hand that can be started and stopped to make specific measurements. By using this stopwatch hand in relationship to the tachymeter, you can make quick calculations regarding the distance traveled over a short period of time. While chronograph is the name of the watch, it’s also the name of this stopwatch feature.

Because of this very useful feature, chronograph watches are highly attractive to athletes looking to make adjustments to their training and sports officials who rely on precision timing to make important calls.

2. Specialty Bezels 

The bezel is an added component that orbits the face of your watch. The wearer of the watch can rotate the bezel to make different types of measurements, and depending on what the wearer needs the watch for, the bezel might include different features.

Many aviation watches feature a dual-time display complication that can be adjusted by rotating the watch’s bezel.

Some chronographs have pulsometer bezels that enable the wearer of the watch to measure their heart rate—this is especially prevalent in racing watches.

Tachymeters are typically featured on watches that have fixed, non-rotating bezels, but that’s not always the case.

3. Tachymeter 

A tachymeter is a type of watch complication used to measure the speed at which the wearer of the watch travels over a set period of time. Complications are simply functions that exist on watches—other than the function of telling time.

The tachymeter is a typical feature on chronograph watches. Not all chronograph watches will necessarily have this feature, but it’s a nice perk to have, especially if you need to use your watch to precisely time anything.

Most tachymeters can make measurements over a period of anywhere from seven to 60 seconds, making it especially useful for making short-term measurements of distance traveled—like if you’re a racecar driver or an airline pilot.

In order to make these measurements, you must apply a basic formula to your tachymeter reading: T=3600/t. In this formula, you’re trying to find T, which is the tachymeter scale value, while t is the elapsed time. The integer of 3600 comes from the 3,600 seconds in an hour. By using this formula, you can determine the speed at which you’re traveling.

4. High-Contrast Dials 

Because chronograph watches are often used by top-tier professionals in high-speed situations, like racecar drivers and pilots, there’s a need to check the time and measure one’s speed quickly and efficiently. So high-contrast dials and other details on the watch face are very important—the less time it takes to glance at your wrist, the more time you can keep your eyes on the road or on the skies.

Racing Watches 

Since the invention of the chronograph watch, there have been many developments that have been geared specifically toward racecar drivers. Many of the features listed above make the chronograph the chosen watch of competitive drivers, and nowadays, you can find entire lines of racing watches from most high-end watch manufacturers.

At Jack Mason, we feature a variety of racing watches that are designed to be simultaneously modern and classic, ensuring that you can sport a stylish chronograph for years. One such example is our Camber Chronograph, which is inspired by elements of mid-century sports cars—including an eye-catching British racing green dial. The Camber Chronograph also features a Time Module VK63 movement and is water-resistant up to 100 meters, just in case you want to take it swimming after your drive.

Aviation Watches

Chronometer watches commonly find themselves on wrists in cockpits, as well. Commonly called “pilot watches” or “aviation watches,” many styles of chronometer watches have been designed specifically with pilots in mind. Because of the high-precision nature of air travel—and the safety concerns that need to be taken into consideration—aviation watches usually come equipped with all of the features listed above. This allows the wearer of the watch to precisely time every movement and maneuver when on the ground or in the air.

At Jack Mason, we offer a wide assortment of aviation watches—and you don’t need to be a pilot to own one or to appreciate their classic appeal. Our Pursuit Chronograph is just one example, featuring a navy sunray dial, Swiss Super-Luminova® markings for high legibility, and a Miyota OS10 movement.

In Conclusion 

You don’t need to be a professional racecar driver or a commercial airline pilot to wear a chronometer watch—nor do you need to perform daily calculations regarding your distance traveled to be able to utilize its many useful features.

While in the past, chronometer watches have been used by top-tier professionals for a variety of specific purposes, today, you can find a chronometer on the wrist of any knowledgeable watch enthusiast.

Whether you desire the precision functionality offered by a chronometer watch or just like the sharp look of its specialty dials and features, there are plenty of timepieces available to suit your needs.

And who knows? Someday you may find yourself on a space shuttle, slowly veering off course on your way back to Earth, and in order to land safely, you may need every single feature available on a chronometer watch.

Sources:

What Is a Chronograph? | GQ

The Omega Speedmaster's 14 Seconds Of Fame | Forbes

History Rebooted: The Chronograph's Inventor is...Louis Moinet! | Forbes

Your Watch Should Fit Just Right, Not Too Loose Or Too Tight.

Your watch’s band is one of its most important components, and its fit can make a major difference in the enjoyability of your watch-wearing experience. Watch bands can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, leather, rubber, and fabrics like nylon. Each of these materials has pros and cons for watch wearers, and it is up to you to decide which one fits best with your style, the demands of your daily life and career, and the colors and materials you typically wear.

Many watch bands are highly adjustable in nature, loosening and tightening in a manner similar to a belt. The most adjustable types of watch bands are typically straps made of nylon or bands made of rubber or leather. Metal watch bands, on the other hand, sometimes require the adding or removing of links to get the ideal fit.

Getting a perfect fit out of your watch band is an absolute must. Your watch goes with you everywhere, and if it is uncomfortable, it can become burdensome and frustrating. A man’s watch should never feel like a chore to wear. Instead, your watch should be enjoyable to put on and wear throughout the day. Wearing a watch that fits perfectly feels like a pleasant and meaningful ritual, and it is worth the time and effort it takes to make an adjustment if your watch is too loose or too tight. 

When A Metal Watch Band Is Too Tight 

Metal watch bands can be ill-fitting in two ways – they are either too loose or too tight. When you choose a watch with a metal band, one of the potential obstacles to expect is an overly tight fit. Dealing with a tight metal watch band is often more of a challenge than tightening one that is too loose. This process is a greater challenge because it involves adding additional links to your metal watch band, whereas tightening involves removing links.

Most metal watch bands are made from a series of connected stainless steel links. These links form a chain, with each link connecting to the next via a tiny pin that slides through a hole to pair two links. If your metal watch band is too tight, you will either need to add additional links that you already own or purchase a few from the manufacturer of your watch band.

When it comes to tightening metal watch bands, it is always better to have extra links to use than too few. Too few watch links means your watch will be looser, but not loose enough to fit. Even if you need to order a few extra links, it’s worth it.

When A Metal Watch Band Is Too Loose 

Tightening a metal watch band involves removing some of the interconnected links to get a more snug fit. This process is typically easier than the alternative, loosening a too-tight strap. When your watch band is too loose, it may slide around haphazardly on your wrist, sometimes even falling off if it is extremely loose. You definitely don’t want to lose your watch due to a loose band.

Removing links from your watch band is relatively simple. You only need a few tools, all of which are small and gentle enough to interact with the tiny, fragile parts of your watch band. We’ll get into the details of adding and removing links from your metal watch band in the next few sections, so make sure to stick around to get a clearer sense of what this process looks like.

The Tools Of The Trade

To make adjustments to your metal watch band, you need just a few things: a clean, well-lit surface with ample flat space, a lightweight hammer, a pushpin, and a pair of needle-nosed pliers. Most of these should already be present in your home, with the most uncommon of them all most likely being a small hammer. Jewelry hammers are ideal for making watch band adjustments and are much more lightweight and precise than a full-sized hammer.

A pushpin is used to gently press out the pin that connects two links in your watch band. A pushpin removes one of these linking pins enough that it can be fully removed using pliers. However, it’s best to stick to tools instead of trying to use your hands for this part of the process. Let the pushpin and pliers do the work instead of attempting to pry out a pin with your fingers, running the risk of damaging or losing it.

Finally, you need a pair of needle-nosed pliers to finish extracting pins from links once they are loosened by your pushpin. These pliers have long, slim pincers that are perfect for handling the tiny pins in your watch band. 

Set up your workspace so that it is fully illuminated and comfortable to sit or stand at. Set aside 30 minutes to an hour to make adjustments to your watch. Take your time with the process – it may feel like a bit of a chore, but performing maintenance on your watch can become a ritual that you enjoy and find rewarding.

Removing Links From Your Watch Band 

To get started with removing a link from your watch band, remove the band from your watch. If you have a quick-release metal watch band, it can be detached from your watch using the release levers on the left and right sides of your watch. These tiny levers retract the coupling pins from your watch with a light press, allowing you to easily remove your band from both sides of your watch.

Once you have removed your watch band from your watch, lay it flat on the surface of your workspace. Then, take your pushpin and gently press it into one of the connecting holes between two links in your band. With some light pressure, the pin should partially retract from the watch band, making it easy to remove it fully with pliers.

Take your watch band in your hand, cradling it carefully so that it does not fall. When you remove the pin, your band will separate into two halves, so it is best to get a secure grip on it before you pull the pin out with pliers.

With a pin removed, one of the links in your watch band will be removed. To reconnect the two separated halves of your watch band, you can place a loose pin in the connecting point between two links and give it a gentle tap with your jewelry hammer. Once you have removed a link and rejoined the two halves of your watch band, reattach the band to your watch and try it on. If it is still too loose, try removing another link. Getting the fit just right may take some trial and error.

Adding Links To Your Watch Band

The process of adding links to a watch band that is too tight is a bit more complicated than the process of removing them. When you have too few links in your watch band, it is sometimes tough to tell how many you need to add for a better fit. In addition, adding links to a tight band may require you to order some extra links from the manufacturer of your band. However, resizing a watch band that is too tight can still be done with some patience and precision. 

To add links to your watch band, you can create a separate chain of connected links to make a major adjustment, or just add one link to your band to make a smaller adjustment. Whether your adjustment is big or small, the process of adding links is relatively similar to the process of removing them – you’ll need the same tools and the same steady, precise hand. 

Adding links to your watch band means creating two separate halves of your band by removing a pin with a pushpin and pliers, the same way you would if you were shortening your band. Once you have separated your band into two halves, add any additional links to the chain by coupling them with each other using your pushpin, pliers, and hammer. Once you have added the desired amount of links to your band, try it on for size. If it is too loose, you will need to remove a few of your added links. Likewise, if it is still too tight, try adding one or two more links to your band. 

Ultimately, the process of resizing a metal watch band can take plenty of determination and patience, but it is worth it in the end. With the right tools and a good space to work in, you can get the job done well and end up with a watch that is much more comfortable.

Sources:

https://hespokestyle.com/nato-strap-history/

https://www.thehourglass.com/collectors-guides/how-should-a-watch-fit/

https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a33637601/quick-release-watch-straps-are-better/

Your watch can tell the world a lot about you. 

A wristwatch can make a powerful and lasting impression when worn well. Complementing your outfit with the right watch can make a major difference in how you look, adding to your sense of put-togetherness and boosting your confidence. For all these reasons and more, wearing a watch is one of the simplest and most practical ways for a man to make a fashion statement. 

When your goal is to let the world around you know that you mean business, a big-faced watch can be a powerful asset. Big-faced watches have a tendency to stand out – a watch with a large face often becomes the centerpiece of your outfit, whether you mean for it to or not. These watches tend to make an outfit exude confidence, giving your look the missing link it needs to be complete. 

However, there are some key rules to follow when pairing watches with various outfits for different occasions. This post is all about choosing the right style of watch to compliment every setting. We’ll get into the details on what you want to know most – how to wear a big-faced watch and when to opt for something more subtle. In addition, we’ll cover some of the characteristics that you’ll want to look for in any wristwatch you buy, regardless of its style.

Choosing a high-quality watch is essential when you want to look your best. Well-chosen accessories like an excellent watch can make a major difference in the impression you leave on everyone you meet. It’s well worth it to take the extra time to explore and learn the rules of fashionable watch-wearing. Fortunately, we’re here to help you along the way.

Why Your Watch Face Size Matters

A watch’s face is the part of the watch that displays the time. A watch’s face may also include additional features known as complications. Complications give a watch additional functionality and convenience for the wearer. Some of the most common watch complications are date displays, dual-time displays, world timers, and chronometers. Some less common complications include moon-phase displays and planetariums, which are rarely found on modern watches, and tachymeters, which measure the speed of the wearer’s movement.

The bigger your watch’s face is, the easier it will be for you to read the display. In addition, interacting with any of the complications featured on your watch’s face is often easier when wearing a larger-faced watch. Watches with smaller faces often have simpler designs that do not include many complications.

In addition, smaller watches may not have room to display larger complications like chronographs or dual-time displays. These complications are much more common in specialized types of watches, such as timepieces designed for aviation, seafaring, and diving. 

What Are The Most Common Types Of Big-faced Watches?

There are several types of watches that are typically made with bigger faces. Some of the most common types of big-faced watches are pilot’s watches, racing watches, and nautical watches.

Pilot’s watches were initially created to be worn specifically by professional airmen. The complications featured on the face of a pilot’s watch serve specific purposes for pilots. Pilot’s watches typically include dual-time displays and chronometers.

For pilots, these complications are extremely useful while in the air. The dual-time display revolutionized the pilot's watch design by making it possible for aviators to travel through multiple time zones and keep their watches accurate. The chronometers featured on pilot’s watches allow for the tracking and measurement of certain amounts of time elapsed. 

Racing watches are similar in design to pilot’s watches and feature similar complications. These watches are also typically designed with bigger faces. The display on the face of a racing watch was designed to provide drivers with useful functions. The complications on a racing watch include a chronometer with a built-in tachymeter, which is used to track speed based on the time elapsed. Tachymeters have been a staple of auto racing for decades, and the racing watch design is steeped in the rich roots of decades of racing.

Wearing A Big-faced Watch Well Starts With The Right Strap. 

Bigger-faced types of watches like aviation, nautical, and racing watches are suitable to wear with a wide variety of outfits in an equally wide variety of situations. Whether you are going to a black-tie event, heading to the office, or relaxing on the weekend, one of these watches can pair well with the rest of your attire. However, there are a few considerations to make before putting on a big-faced watch.

Think about the design of the rest of your watch. What is the strap made of? Is it leather? Metal? Canvas? Rubber? Each of these materials lends itself to specific dress codes, and the wrong strap material can make an otherwise appropriate watch unfit for a specific occasion. 

When it comes to watch straps, metal and leather tend to be the most versatile materials to wear. These materials are also used to make the straps for most big-faced watches. The most formal watch strap material out there is black leather – in certain settings that are very, very formal, black leather is the only material you’ll want to wear for accessories like belts, shoes, and watch bands. In most settings, though, brown leather or metal is just fine. 

Big-faced watches do not typically feature canvas or rubber straps. However, if you do have a watch that includes a strap made from one of these materials, it is probably best to save it for more casual settings. Field watches specifically are most often paired with canvas straps, and these watches are designed to be worn only in casual settings – they are often best fit for outdoor adventures or everyday wear with jeans and t-shirts. A field watch is an excellent timepiece to have in your rotation, but it might not be your best choice for a formal occasion.

As for rubber straps, these are less common when paired with analog watches. For digital and smartwatches, on the other hand, rubber is a much more common strap material. Rubber is typically a more casual material, often worn during workouts and other strenuous activity as a strap paired with a smartwatch. However, some analog watches do make good use of rubber straps, making the material fit right in with a formal outfit. Some dive watches, for example, feature rubber watch bands, and these bands look much more tasteful and formal than those featured on smartwatches and digital watches.

When Should You Wear A Smaller-faced Watch? 

In some circumstances, a watch with a smaller face may be a better pairing for your outfit or for a specific occasion. Dress watches, the most formal style of timepiece, are typically designed with smaller, more discreet faces. These sleek, stylish watches typically pair a smaller face with a luxurious black leather band to achieve the highest possible levels of formality. 

Dress watches are often paired with tuxedos and other very dressy outfits. However, in most settings, a dive watch or another tasteful, simple watch with the right strap can be just as at home in a very formal setting. 

Big-faced watches are not out of the question in highly formal settings – it’s all about how you wear your watch. A big face and numerous complications do not make a watch stand out in a bad way, but they do certainly draw attention to your wrist. Wearing an elaborate pilot’s watch with a large face, chronometers, and other complications can perfectly complement a more formal outfit, but it may not be your best choice if you are aiming for simplicity.

Having more than one watch in your arsenal is ideal for achieving the maximum amount of perfect pairings with different outfits and occasions. The more versatile your wardrobe is, including your accessories like watches, the better prepared you will be for anywhere you go. If you own a big-faced watch, it’s a great move to have a smaller one with minimal complications on standby for days when you are going for a more subtle look. However, a big-faced watch, when worn right, can be right at home when paired with a wide variety of looks.

To make the most out of your big-faced watch, consider owning several straps made from different materials that are compatible with it. Switching out straps can often be all your watch needs to be compatible with a specific outfit. 

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how you feel about wearing a watch that makes a big statement. A great-looking, high-quality watch can be paired well with just about any outfit when worn right and paired with a fitting strap. When it comes to your watch of choice, there are many more factors at play than just the watch itself. Choosing a good strap, staying aware of the context the watch will be worn in, and complementing your watch with other coordinated accessories can all make a major difference in how you pull off a look.

Sources:

https://old-sole.com/blogs/news/which-leather-is-more-versatile-black-or-brown

https://ashleyweston.com/mens-essentials-accessories/are-smartwatches-fashionable/

https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/matching-your-watch-with-your-clothes/

For Hundreds Of Years, Watches Kept Time Without Battery Power. 

For centuries, watches were made of entirely mechanical components. Long before the invention of electricity and battery power, watchmakers crafted watches that kept time with no batteries, microchips, or any other electronics. These watches were powered by mechanical movement, the oldest form of watch power ever invented.

Mechanical watches keep time through a staggeringly intricate combination of interconnected gears and other tiny components. These watches are composed of a set of sections known as bridges, which house a series of parts that regulate the release of energy from a coiled piece of metal called the mainspring. The mainspring in a mechanical watch stores energy when the watch’s wearer winds the watch by hand. 

Winding a mechanical watch stores up kinetic energy in the mainspring. This energy is periodically released in carefully timed increments. A mechanism in a mechanical watch called the escapement regulates the release of energy from the mainspring. The escapement houses a fragile, oscillating component called the balance wheel, which triggers the timed release of a cog called the escape wheel. When the escape wheel is released, the mainspring releases energy, allowing the watch’s hands to turn.

Pre-battery watches are fascinating marvels of human ingenuity. Over the centuries, mechanical watch movement evolved, giving way to the rise of self-winding watches in the early 20th century. These automatic watches used the same type of mainspring-based winding system as traditional mechanical watches. However, an automatic watch uses a weighted rotor mechanism to harness the energy from the movements of the wearer’s wrist to wind the mainspring.

Mechanical and automatic watches both keep time to an impressive level of accuracy without the use of electronics or batteries. However, these watches are now rivaled by another form of watch movement that was introduced in the latter half of the 20th century.

The Rise Of The Quartz Watch 

In the late 1960s, the legendary watchmakers Seiko introduced a new form of watch power that changed timekeeping forever. The battery-powered quartz mechanism first used by Seiko is now one of the dominant forms of watch movement on the modern market. Quartz watches are reliable, highly accurate, and easy to use with minimal maintenance and upkeep.

A quartz watch contains a small battery that generates an electrical current. This current vibrates a piece of quartz at a precise frequency, sending a signal to the watch that translates to a movement of the watch’s hands.

Quartz watches quickly became popular thanks to their accuracy, the elimination of the need for manual winding, and their reliability with minimal maintenance or upkeep. These watches have gone on to become the primary competitors of automatic watches, while mechanical watches have become largely obsolete.

Quartz Watches Vs. Automatic Watches 

Automatic watches have been around longer than their quartz-powered counterparts and rely on a more traditional mechanism to keep time. Although they have found worthy competition in the form of quartz movement, automatic watches are still extremely popular today.

One of the major pros of choosing to wear an automatic instead of a quartz watch is the lack of a battery. Batteries need to be periodically replaced, whereas an automatic watch simply needs an occasional manual winding. The majority of the time, an automatic watch can rely solely on the energy harnessed from your wrist as you wear it. 

Another perk of wearing an automatic watch is the weightiness of this type of timepiece. Automatics have a distinct heft to them thanks to the weight included in the rotor mechanism that allows the mainspring to wind itself. Automatic watches often feel inherently elegant thanks to this heaviness, which gives an automatic a unique feel when it is on your wrist. Quartz watches, on the other hand, are usually much lighter.

Quartz watches also have their own unique perks. Quartz movement never requires manual winding, making it especially convenient for anyone on a tight schedule. Quartz watches instead use battery power to keep time, with a much simpler and electronically integrated mechanism than traditional mechanical watches.

As for drawbacks, both of these types of watches have a few, but none too big to scare you away from either quartz or automatic movement. Automatic watches require a bit more attention than quartz watches in some cases, needing to be manually wound if they are left unworn for long enough. Because the primary source of energy for an automatic is the movements of the wearer’s wrist, it will eventually run out of stored energy in its mainspring if it is not worn frequently. This makes an automatic watch something of a commitment for the wearer.

On the other hand, quartz watches have one potential drawback to them – they are significantly less traditional in their inner workings. While quartz and automatic watches may look the same on the outside, the mechanisms that keep them ticking are entirely different. 

The rich history of mechanical watches – and their direct descendants, automatics – often make them more attractive to purists and those who favor anything classic. Automatic movement dates further back than quartz movement, making it distinctly appealing to some in a way that quartz movement is not.

How Quartz Watch Movement Works, In Depth 

Inside a quartz watch is a small battery, which provides an electrical current to a microchip. This microchip is programmed to produce a precise vibration, which it emits to a piece of quartz inside the watch. This quartz then vibrates at a specific amount of times per second. 

The amount of vibrations per second in the piece of quartz inside a quartz watch is staggering – over 32,000. The quartz vibrates at this rate to keep the watch accurate, never deviating from their precise timing. The microchip inside the watch converts these vibrations into electricity, generated at a rate of one pulse of energy per second.

The pulses generated by the microchip inside a quartz watch are used to power a tiny motor. This motor turns a series of gears inside the watch, allowing the watch’s hands to turn in precise time with the signals emanated from the vibrating quartz. Now that the vibration has been translated into mechanical energy, it can be used to power a quartz watch for years at a time.

While the ticking of a quartz watch is permanently set by its inner mechanism to a fixed rate, the wearer sometimes still needs to make adjustments to the time displayed on his watch. These adjustments are made using a small knob on the watch called the crown. Automatic and mechanical watches also feature a crown, but the crowns included on these watches are used for both winding and setting time. 

Quartz watch crowns do not provide energy to a mainspring, as a quartz watch does not rely on kinetic energy to tick. Instead, the crown on a quartz watch simply places the watch’s hands at a certain time. Then when the crown is pressed into its normal position, the watch resumes its normal rate of ticking.

Quartz Watch Batteries: How Long They Last, And How To Replace Them 

The battery in a quartz watch is typically a 1.55V silver oxide battery. Some watches also use lithium batteries, silver peroxide, and even solar power for their batteries. Depending on the type of battery included in your watch, it may have a longer or shorter lifespan.

Quartz watch batteries are designed to last about two years but can sometimes keep your watch running for even longer. Determining what type of battery your quartz watch uses will help you get a sense of how long its battery’s life is and what type of battery you will need to purchase as a replacement.

Be prepared to replace your watch battery every couple of years. When it’s time to replace your watch battery, it’s best to do so with a pair of tweezers instead of trying to use your hands. The oil on your fingers can potentially harm the inner workings of your quartz watch, so using tweezers instead is the best way to avoid damage.

The backplate of your quartz watch should be removable with a small screwdriver. Some quartz watch batteries are also held in place by a tiny screw. Others are simply resting in place, in which case a pair of tweezers is all you need to remove the battery.

Once you have the backplate of your watch open, gently remove your watch’s spent battery and use your tweezers to put a new one in place. Double-check that your new battery is the same type as your old one – the wrong battery will leave your watch non-functioning at best and can cause permanent damage at worst. 

Once you have placed the new battery in its slot using tweezers, replace the screw holding it in place if one is present. Then, screw the backplate of your watch back into place, and your watch should be up and running again for another several years.

Sources:

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/quartzclockwatch.html

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/how-long-can-a-spent-battery-be-kept-in-a-watch-before-it-starts-to-decay-and-leak.4774935/

https://www.watchstyle.com/assembly-and-repair/replacing-the-battery.html

What Is A Tachymeter? 

A tachymeter is a type of watch complication used to measure the speed at which the watch’s wearer travels over a fixed period of time. Tachymeters are typically featured on chronographs, specialized watches that feature multiple stopwatch functions in addition to the traditional watch display. 

A tachymeter is normally a part of a chronograph’s bezel. The bezel is an added component that orbits the face of your watch. Bezels are used to make different types of measurements, and different watches often include different features on their bezels. 

Many watch bezels are designed to rotate to make specific measurements and adjustments. For example, many aviation watches feature a dual-time display complication that can be adjusted by rotating the bezel of the watch. However, tachymeters are featured on watches with fixed, non-rotating bezels. 

Tachymeters can be used to measure the speed a watch’s wearer is traveling at over a specific period of time. Most tachymeters can make measurements over a period of anywhere from seven to 60 seconds. 

Chronograph watches feature a hand that can be started or stopped to make specific measurements. To use the tachymeter complication on your chronograph, you will line up this hand with a specific point on your tachymeter scale. You can then make some quick calculations using a simple formula to determine your speed over a specific period of time.

Tachymeter Measurements Step One: Know The Formula 

Making measurements with your tachymeter relies on some basic math. There are 3600 seconds in an hour, and the formula that you use to calculate speed based on your tachymeter reading is T=3600/t. This formula translates the measurement on your tachymeter scale into speed traveled in units per hour by dividing the number of seconds in an hour by the amount of time elapsed on your chronograph.

Knowing this formula means you can calculate your average speed over a certain distance by dividing the amount of time elapsed on your chronograph by the number of seconds in an hour. Based on this formula, you can determine how fast you are traveling from one point to another by starting your chronograph at point A and stopping it at point B. The number on your chronograph is the number of seconds it took to get from point A to point B. The number on your tachymeter is the speed (in miles per hour) you would need to be traveling to reach point B from point A at the speed that you did. That means you now know how fast you were going between point A and point B.

Tachymeter Measurements Step Two: Does Your Watch Have A Tachymeter? 

Not all watches, and not even all chronograph watches, include a tachymeter. Tachymeters are often featured on racing watches, whereas the bezel on other specialized types of watches may include another complication. Tachymeters are typically labeled, making them easy to spot.

Another easy way to tell whether or not your watch has a tachymeter is to see if the bezel on your watch rotates. Remember, tachymeters are fixed in place – unlike other complications located on the bezel of a watch, they do not rotate. If your watch has a numeric complication on its bezel that rotates, it is likely a tool other than a tachymeter.

Tachymeter Measurements Step Three: Know The Distance Between Two Points 

Tachymeter measurements are based on prior knowledge of the amount of ground you are covering in a fixed period of time. To get an accurate measurement of your speed in miles per hour using your tachymeter, you need to know exactly how far you (or the object you are speed-tracking) have traveled. 

The easiest way to get an accurate tachymeter reading is to look for two points with a distance between them that you know. Thanks to smartphones, you can determine the distance between two points with relative ease using a navigation app. Because tachymeters can measure speed over up to 60 seconds, you can track speed over relatively long distances if you are traveling fast enough. 

Once you know the distance between points A and B, you are ready to make an accurate tachymeter measurement. All you need now is to start your chronograph at point A and stop it at point B.

Tachymeter Measurements Step Four: Know How To Read Your Chronometer 

If you have a chronograph watch with a tachymeter, you need to familiarize yourself with your watch’s chronometer, which plays a key role in tachymeter measurements. Your chronometer serves as the stopwatch function on your watch, with a starting and stopping hand that can be used to track elapsed time. A chronograph has a third hand, which starts spinning when the wearer engages the chronometer using a button on the side of the watch. 

The numbers on your chronometer correspond to seconds passed. However, the units on your tachymeter correspond to speed traveled in miles per hour based on your chronometer reading. In other words, you need your chronometer to read your tachymeter.

Once you are familiar with your chronograph’s stopwatch function, you are ready to use it to read the tachymeter on your watch’s bezel. With these two complications working together, you can track the speed of an object over a certain distance.

What Types Of Watches Have Tachymeters? 

The main type of watch that includes a tachymeter is the racing watch. Iconic for its sleek design and its place in the rich history of competitive driving, the racing watch is a perfect timepiece for more than just car enthusiasts. Anyone can make good use of the chronometer and tachymeter included on a racing watch to track speeds and times, and these watches are uniquely stylish.

Racing watches are characterized by a few key features. A high-contrast dial is a hallmark of the racing watch design, a must-have feature for drivers traveling at high speeds. Standard watch faces can be difficult to read when moving extremely fast, and the racing watch design has competitive drivers in mind, giving them a highly readable display.

The racing watch design also features a stopwatch function, which can correspond with multiple chronometers for measuring times and distances. In addition to the chronometers, a racing watch includes a tachymeter on its bezel. When used with the stopwatch, the tachymeter can come in handy in many contexts at the racetrack, allowing for the tracking of speeds at certain points in a driver’s route.

A less common complication featured on some racing watches is a pulsometer. This complication is designed for measuring the pulse of a driver. However, the pulsometer is not considered as much of a staple of the racing watch design as the tachymeter or chronometer. 

Why You Should Consider A Racing Watch 

Racing watches have a unique appeal that reaches far beyond the world of competitive driving. These watches have a number of distinct features that can be useful for anyone measuring times, distances, and speeds. The complications featured on a racing watch make this type of timepiece indispensable for use in a wide variety of competitive sports, from swimming and sprinting to eating contests.

The chronograph has long been relied on in a host of contexts to measure elapsed time. Interacting with a chronograph watch is uniquely satisfying. A well-built watch with useful complications can quickly become not just a favorite accessory but also a highly useful tool that comes in handy in a wide variety of situations. The chronograph on a racing watch can be used in many day-to-day circumstances, and its applications reach beyond the realm of driving and other competitive sports.

In addition to being highly useful, a racing watch has a look that is a unique blend of classic and modern. Jack Mason’s Mirabeau Racing Chronograph has a design that is modeled after components of classic cars from the mid-20th century, making it look like a timeless piece of automotive history that you can proudly wear on your wrist.

The stylish looks and numerous uses of a racing watch make it a worthy candidate for everyday wear. Racing watches can be paired with straps made from a wide variety of materials but tend to look best with a metal or leather band. Using quick-release watch straps, you can easily swap out the strap on a racing watch to transform its appearance. With multiple straps at your disposal, your racing watch can be right at home on a weekend drive, at a formal gathering, at the office, or anywhere else you may find yourself. 

The versatile design of the racing watch makes it a jack-of-all-trades that is both stylish and practical. You won’t regret making it a part of your wardrobe, whether you like to drive fast or not. For automotive enthusiasts and casual commuters alike, racing watches have a lot to offer, and their looks and functionality set them apart from other types of timepieces.

Sources:

https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/use-chronograph-tachymeter-wristwatch/

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15376545/the-coolest-racing-watches-ever-made/

https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a27479488/tag-heuer-motorsport-history/

Not All Watches Work The Same 

The mechanism that keeps your watch ticking and telling the time accurately is called its movement. The three types of watch movements are mechanical, automatic and quartz. Each of these movements uses a unique mechanism to keep your watch running smoothly.

When it comes to watch movements, there is no objective best option that is preferred by all wearers. Instead, your choice of watch movement comes down to personal preferences, budget, and the amount of time you plan on investing in caring for and maintaining your watch.

One of the most popular watch movements, automatic movement, has been used to power timepieces for centuries. Automatic movement has stood the test of time and remains a staple in luxury watches to this day. When you are on the lookout for an ideal watch, you’ll want to make sure to consider automatic movement.

This post goes in-depth about the inner workings of an automatic watch, as well as the history of the movement. Automatic watches may be centuries old, but the movement has stayed popular among watchmakers and enthusiasts alike – and with good reason.

If you’re curious about what goes on under the surface of your timepiece, keep on reading. We’re about to shed some light on how automatic watches work, their history, and why you should consider making automatic your movement of choice.

A Brief History Of One Of The Most Popular Watch Movements 

Automatic watch movement was pioneered as early as the 1770s. The first automatic watchmakers created an innovative mechanism that was designed to transfer energy generated by a watch wearer's hand movements to a weighted rotor inside the watch.

When automatic watches were first invented, they were handheld pocket watches. These early automatic watches were not as accurate as the wrist-worn ones to come, and over a century would pass before automatic wristwatches became available to the public.

During the early 20th century, automatic watch movement was further innovated, and became even more cemented in watch-wearing culture. In the 1920s, watchmakers began making and selling wrist-worn automatic watches. These watches could transfer much greater amounts of energy from the wearer to the mainspring. This increase in energy transfer and storage gave automatic wristwatches the ability to stay ticking for much longer than their handheld predecessors. 

At this point, automatic watch movement was beginning to compete with mechanical movement, which required wearers to manually wind their watches. Automatic watches offered convenience and accessibility that made them attractive to consumers, and automatic movement was just as reliable as mechanical movement when used by an expert watchmaker.

Automatic Watches: The Pros 

An automatic watch’s weighted rotor spins as the wearer turns his wrist, allowing for energy to be stored in the watch’s mainspring. The energy stored in the mainspring can then keep the watch ticking accurately without manual winding for long periods of time. This mechanism makes automatic watches extremely convenient for the wearer. 

The weighted rotor mechanism inside an automatic watch gives it a distinct heaviness. For many watch enthusiasts, the weight of an automatic watch has a unique appeal. High-quality automatic watches typically weigh more due to the use of a heavier weight, and one of the best ways to discern an automatic watch’s quality is by how it feels in your hand. A heavy watch is not necessarily a better watch, but the heft of an automatic watch tends to be a promising sign.

Automatic watches also have a unique appeal for purists who prefer to keep things as classic as possible. Since quartz watches have become more and more prevalent in the last few decades, sticking with an automatic watch can be an act of devotion to a longer-running form of watch movement. For watch purists, wearing a mechanical or automatic watch is an opportunity to take a unique level of pride in one’s timepiece.

Automatic Watches: The Cons 

The only thing that stands in the way of an automatic watch continuing to work without manual winding is if it is not worn. For an automatic watch to keep ticking, it needs to be worn consistently. The transfer of energy from your wrist to the watch’s mainspring by way of the weighted rotor is what keeps your automatic watch ticking. So, if you leave your watch off for long periods of time, it may need to be wound manually.

The need for manual winding from time to time makes automatic watches inherently higher-maintenance than quartz-powered watches. Opting for an automatic watch means making a commitment to taking some time to maintain your watch to keep it running smoothly. In contrast, a quartz watch, powered by a battery, will run and keep time accurately until its battery needs to be replaced.

Choosing to wear an automatic watch can also be less appealing for some based on the weight of the automatic mechanism. In the same way that the heaviness of automatic watches make them desirable for many watch wearers, this weight can also make an automatic watch feel cumbersome for some. If you prefer a watch that feels as light as possible, a quartz watch is likely a better pick for you. 

What Kind Of Automatic Watch Should I Get? 

Once you decide that automatic movement is right for you, you still have plenty of freedom to choose what your watch will be like. A watch’s movement is completely independent from its outward design– that means you can have an automatic dive watch, pilot’s watch, and more with automatic movement. 

Knowing that your watch’s movement is independent from its type, it is always worth it to explore the different types of watches once you decide what movement is right for you. Depending on your lifestyle, fashion preferences, job, and other factors, you can find an ideal watch design that meets all your needs. 

Your watch is one of the most important elements of any outfit you wear. A watch can make or break your look, so knowing how to pair your timepiece with different outfits and occasions is a precious skill. Whether you are someone who tends to dress formal or more casual, a watch can complement your style and take an outfit to the next level. It’s all about knowing how to choose the right one for you.

The Automatic Dive Watch: A Timeless And Versatile Timepiece 

If you are looking for an ideal everyday watch that is right at home paired with a suit and tie or a t-shirt and jeans, an automatic dive watch might be exactly what you are after. With a classic look that has been sported by generations of sharp-dressed men, the dive watch is both simple and elegant. 

Dive watches were originally designed to withstand the high pressure of the ocean’s depths. However, their good looks made these timepieces attractive to more than just deep-sea divers. Dive watches quickly became staples in men’s fashion in the mid-20th century, and they haven’t gone anywhere ever since. With an automatic dive watch, you can count on the perfect combination of form and function. Dive watches traditionally have minimal complications, and can be worn well with either a leather or metal band.

Automatic Aviation Watches: Useful, Great-Looking, And Steeped In History

When international flights and passing between time zones became the new normal for aviators in the 20th century, pilots needed a watch that could meet their specific needs. During this aviation renaissance, the modern pilot’s watch was born. Featuring a wide array of unique complications, a pilot’s watch is excellent for professional pilots and hobbyists alike, as well as for the fashion-conscious gentleman who appreciates a well-crafted timepiece.

Aviation watches are uniquely elaborate in their design, often featuring a date complication and a multi-scale chronograph, a pilot’s watch can complement a formal or casual outfit.

Quartz Vs. Automatic: Is There A Winner?

When it comes to watch movements, there is no objective best option that we unanimously recommend. The modern era of watchmaking has seen quartz movement rise up to compete with automatic movement. Quartz is a worthy contender as a watch-powering mechanism, powered by a battery instead of a rotor. Quartz watches are famously low-maintenance, and often feel lighter to wear than their automatic or mechanical counterparts.

Ultimately, there are pros and cons of each type of watch movement. For most men, the decision is typically between automatic and quartz, and both are excellent choices. Automatic watches have a longer-running history than quartz-powered timepieces, and they often appeal to fans of the classics. However, quartz watches offer a unique level of accessibility and take the cake in terms of user friendliness. The choice between the two is, in the end, up to each man to make for himself.

Sources:

https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a93012/how-does-an-automatic-watch-movement-work/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-24/how-world-war-i-changed-watches-forever

https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/quartz-mechanical-automatic-movements/