What You Need To Know About Watches

Christmas is the time when most of you will be buying watches to give as gifts

, but there are so many questions that you probably have generally about watches and this is where you may find some of the answers.

Different Types of Movements

There are basically three types of watch movements. They are automatic, quartz and manual wind.

Manual wind watches are ones that need to be wound every so often using the crown. If this is not done, the movement inside the watch will stop. Even with this inconvenience, many of these watches are bought and sold every day and most are still produced in Switzerland, the land of great watches. Some of these are so prized that they can cost well over $5000. These are the type that collectors find very desirable.

Automatic watches have a rotor on the movement that keeps the watch wound by the motion on your wrist. If the watch is worn every day, an automatic watch can run for a lifetime. These usually have hundreds of parts in their tiny cases. If an automatic watch stops, watch experts' advice to wind it using the crown for 20 to 30 times to give it what they call a "kick start". If these are not wound manually, the motion of your wrist is usually not enough to keep them running accurately.

A watch that has quartz movement became fairly common for watches in the 1970s. This type of watch is powered with a battery and requires very little if any maintenance except for a new battery. They are much more accurate as compared to mechanical watches. The only problem is that each watch might have a different size battery and some are often hard to find.

Difference between Chronograph and Chronometer

A chronograph is a watch that also has the function of a stopwatch. Normally, the top pusher will start and stop the stopwatch. The pusher located at the bottom will reset it. The chronograph usually does not reset when it is running. Special "Flyback" watch models allow the chronograph to be reset any time.

A chronometer is a watch that has also passed a series of tests and is a superior timekeeper. Most watchmakers will put this movement through these tests just to show how accurate they are. The dial face will normally have the word "Chronometre" or "Chronometer" on these watches. To be a chronometer, the movement of the watch needs to pass severe testing for 15 days. The movement accuracy is tested in five various positions at temperatures that vary. This simulates conditions under which this watch might be worn. The watch needs to average between plus 6 and minus 4 seconds each day in order to have this certification.

Different Watch Crystals

The different types of crystals used today on a watch include Mineral, Sapphire and Plexiglass or plastic. Plastic crystals are the least expensive and usually found on vintage watches as well as many newer models. These crystals easily scratch, but they are very cheap to replace as well as easy to buff the scratches out. Sapphire is the most expensive and also the most resistant to scratches. It can only be scratched by diamonds and other surfaces with a hardness of minerals rated as 10. They usually are priced over $100 to change out and are almost impossible to buff scratches out. Since they are this hard, they are most probable to shatter than scratch, which does not happen with plastic. Mineral crystal in scratch resistance and price is somewhere between sapphire and plastic. These are just a few of the questions that people have about watches.

by: Kurt Ross

POST COMMENT

Tissot Watches Make You More Exciting In Sport Learning To Clean Your Watches Some Important Questions About Watches Finding Competent Repair Shops For Used Rolex Watches In San Francisco Watches From Top Brands A Fantastic Collection Of Trendy Accessories Antique Pocket Watches For Men 3 Types Of Watches To Consider Vintage Clocks: Typical Watches From the Recent Luxury Watches Must Have Watches As Presents Different Lange Watches Armani watches are right for Men Helpful information For Technomarine Different watches