75 Watch Terms You Need to Know - A Crash Course to Watch Collecting Terminology

Watch enthusiasm has a specific set of special lingo and terminology that can make it challenging for new fans to understand or engage in an in-depth watch conversation. In this video, I'll do a comprehensive walk-though featuring over 75 terms related to watches and their movements. If you're looking for a great place to start in furthering your understanding of watches, this is it.

Other Educational Teddy Videos:

0:00 - Intro and Organization
1:07 - Basic Watch Terminology
7:42 - Movement Terminology
14:40 - Complications
20:41 - Finishing Terminology

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1:50 : *I. Basic Watch Terminology*

One 1:55 - *Case* : The overall body of the watch. Houses the movement and other elements.
Two 2:00 - *Case Back* : Faces and keeps contact with the wrist. Can be opened to expose the
Three 2:17 - *Exhibition Case Back* : Transparent case back. Allows for the viewing the movement / rotor for automatic watches.
Four - 2:23 - *Thickness* : measure of Case back to top of the crystal.
Five - 2:42 - *Lugs* : Protrusions from the case that allow for the strap / bracelet to attach.
Six - 2:57 - *Lug Width* : distance between lugs on the same side of the watch. Must know your lug width when swapping out straps.
Seven - 3:13 - *Integrated Bracelets* : no lugs no strap options. The bracelet connects to the case with limited removeablility.
Eight - 3:31 - *Strap* : the continuous (no links) leather / rubber / fabric band that fixes watch to the wrist.
Nine - 3:45 - *Deployant Buckle* : used on higher end straps to fasten the watch - Not the more commonplace "belt"-buckle found on most.
Ten - 4:22 - *Bracelet* : metallic band that uses links to wrap around the wrist. The links need to be removed or added to fit properly to the wearer.
Eleven - 4:33 - *Clasp* : the buckle used for a bracelet. Allows you to open and close to affix and remove the watch. Some clasps have extensions built into them to allow for being worn over wet suits (for divers)
Twelve - 4:47 - *Lug-to-Lug* : Overall vertical distance of a watch, lug-tip to lug-tip.
Thirteen - 5:17 - *Crystal* : the transparent material that protects the face of the watch and allows for viewing the face, dial, and components. Crystal materials can be plexiglas, acrylic, sapphire, and others.
Fourteen- 5:35 - *Bezel* : Ring around the crystal. There's tremendous variance in the functionality and utility of the bezel.
Fifteen - 5:50 - *Bezel insert* : The inlay track on the bezel - containing markings and numerals, depending on functionality.
Sixteen - 6:06 - *Crown* : Usually placed at 3 O'clock. Allows you to adjust the time and date by pulling out at different levels.
Seventeen - 6:23 - *Pushers* : Located above and below the crown. Allow for control of other complications that may be present.
Eighteen - 6:41 - *Dial* - The central plate that shows the numerals, complications, and is what the hands rotate over.
Nineteen - 6:57 - *Hands* - They show the time longer for the minute, shorter for the hour.
Twenty - 7:17 - *Water Resistance* : rate of pressure the watch can sustain.

*II. Movement Terminology*

Twenty One - 7:74 - *Movement / Caliber* - the mechanical element-set of the watch that tracks time. The movement can be quarts, manual, automatic, or something altogether different. Quartz is far away the most common - using the vibrations of a quartz crystal to power the movement. Quarts requires the replacement of a battery.

*Mechanic* on the other hand, doesn't require a battery but instead houses an elaborate set of springs and gears to hold power. Mechanical comes in manual or automatic:

Twenty Two - 8:53 - *Manual* AKA hand winding movements. Rotate the crown to power the watch.
Twenty Three - 9:05 - *Automatic* uses a rotatory plate (rotor) to wind a main spring. Many automatic movements can be wound via the crown as well.

Twenty Four - 9:30 - *Rotor / Oscillating Weight* - ball-bearing plate that moves as you wear it to wind the mainspring.
Twenty Five - 9:42 - *Power Reserve* - The duration of time the watch will continue to keep the time without being wound.

Twenty Six - 9:55 - *Jewels* - precious stones used in hi wear areas of a watch placed in high tension areas to resist wear and tear.
Twenty Seven - 10:02 - *Hacking* - "stop seconds" The movement will stop at the farthest out position, this helps keep more precise time.
Twenty Eight - 10:24 - *Base Plate / Main Plate* - the main plate on which components of the movement will sit.
Twenty Nine - 10:35 - *Bridges* - Structural components that support other elements screwed to the main plate.
Thirty - 10:43 - *Mainspring* - a large spring, that stores the energy powering the movement. It is wound the by crown, rotor plate. It will release stored energy down a gear train, powering the watch.
Thirty One - 11:10 - *Gear Train* - the backbone of the movement. Takes energy from the mainspring and to the escapement wheel.
Thirty two - 11:26 - *Escapement Wheel* - Takes energy from gear train.
Thirty Three - - *Palet Fork* -
Thirty Four - - *Balance Wheel* -
Thirty Five - - *Palet Fork*
Thirty Six - - *Hair spring aka Balance spring* -

Thirty seven- 12:41 - *Coaxial Escapement*

*III. Complications*

*IV. Finishing Terminology*

[soccernerd]

The speed at which you talk has improved dramatically from some of your older videos where you're talking like a rap god.

[johnanth]

Just want to really emphasise this is a very well made video. Teddy (and his team) took the time to have a shot for nearly every thing he discussed, which was often a different watch. Filming watches is hard so let's recognise this amazing effort and brilliant video-making. We saw 26 minutes but believe me when I say this must have taken 30+ hours to film and edit.

[BoatsnHelicopters]

Yes, this was a needed video. Thanks for taking the time to make this for all of us horological neophytes.

[CyberBeep_kenshi]

Summing up facts should never be considered offensive.

[ELMS]

Your videos are always so well organized and researched. Appreciated. 👍

[michaeljamespitt]

I keep coming back to this video, and just feel so enamoured by the complexities that go into time-keeping. Teddy, thank you for teaching us all so much about these beautiful objects, and helping me personally start to see and understand the sheer beauty of watches❤️

[pparkhu]

Probably going to have to watch this again. Even at 26 min; it is short and to the point, thank you for that!!! But a TON of information. Just purchased my first of many watches from you last week. Feel like I have falling down a rabbit hole of new fun!!!

[rowlandpanjaitan]

When i'm just starting my interest in watches and you post this! Thankyou for the lesson!

[andykrishnaputra]

A video done beautifully and meticulously. Flawless, clear. Very useful with pleasant animations. Cool yet professional feel. Love it Teddy !!!

[WatchCrunchOfficial]

This was awesome Teddy! Very informative and comprehensive. Learned me some French today ;)

[mikedott]

Have always been wondering about all these terms. Glad to have all these terminologies being compiled into a single video for beginners like me. Much appreciated!

[MirrlyonTime]

Loved every minute of this video, going to re watch the movement and finishing section, learned a lot!!! Thanks Teddy

[david]

I wish I could give this video 3 thumbs up. I've wanted to learn watch terminology for a long time, and this video goes above and beyond to explain it. Thank you Teddy. Well done sir.

[kingadjust]

the Hamilton king day date which is $800 has the same movement as the $4000 breitling day date!!! 😎👍

[rahmanrabil]

Great video, Teddy. I started watching you few days ago and already saw the 2 basic terminology videos of you few days ago, now also watching this now. Love your content, take love!

[hablemosderelojesmx]

This is one of the most complete videos I saw about horology. Congratulations. Great job!

[the_once-and-future_king.]

I could listen to the Lange repeater all day!

[docsol]

You put so much effort into every video. Most importantly, with great success. Thanks so much!

[degenerateWA]

There's always something we can learn every day, and we don't know what we don't know, so thanks for the great knowledge.