Glossary

3-fold clasp:

This refers to the fastening mechanism on bracelets. There are 3 sections that fold together and are secured by pushing clasp. To release, you lift up the clasp or you push a release catch.

Adjustable bracelet:

An adjustable bracelet can be adjusted immediately by the wearer without the need for specialist re-sizing.

Alarm:

A function (or mode) which is available in either digital, analogue or duo-display watches. An alarm gives an audible signal when a pre-set time (set by the wearer) has been reached.

Analogue:

This term is used to describe a watch which has hour and minute hands to show the time instead of a digital display.

Arabic numerals:

1,2,3,4,5 etc. used to indicate hour makers on the dial of the watch or clock face

Automatic:

An automatic is a mechanical watch whose mainspring is wound as a result of the wearer's arm motion. This should not be confused with Kinetic watch technology. (See Kinetic)

Batons:

Oblong hour markers on the dial of a watch or clock face.

Bezel:

The bezel is the upper section of a watch case that surrounds the watch face. On some models the bezel can be rotated.

Bracelet:

A bracelet is a metal band that holds the watch to the wearer's wrist instead of a leather strap.

Buckle:

The fastening used to secure a strap to the wearer's wrist. On a bracelet this is referred to as a clasp.

Cabochon crown:

A type of ornate stone set crown.

Calendar:

This is also referred to as the date function. In an analogue watch this will normally be shown in a window at the 3 o'clock position but sometimes at 6 o'clock.

Calibre: 

This is the collective name given to a series of movements of the same design.

Case:

The case is the body of the watch to which the strap or bracelet is attached and it can be in a variety of shapes. The movement of the watch is contained in the case.

Champagne dial:

This term is used to describe a gold coloured dial

Chronograph:

A watch which has two independent systems: one provides the time of day while the other system measures intervals of time against an action such as running. A Chronograph therefore provides the function of a stopwatch.

Chronometer:

A watch or clock that has passed tests at an official watch-testing centre and received a certificate to this effect. There is less need to demonstrate a quartz watch's accuracy as quartz technology is by definition an ultra-precise form of timekeeping.

Clasp:

The fastening mechanism attached to a bracelet.

Crown:

A small knob situated on the outside of an analogue watch case, normally positioned at 3 o'clock. The crown is used to set the hands and the day/date window. In a mechanical watch the crown is called a 'winder'.

Day/Date:

This function on a watch shows the day of the week and/or date of the month.

Deployment Clasp:

This refers to the mechanism which unfastens bracelets.

Dial:

This is the face of the watch. In an analogue watch the dial consists of hour reference points and hands enabling the wearer to tell the time.

Dual Time:

This function offers a dual facility for time reading so that times can be shown in two different time zones at one time.

Duo display:

A watch with duo-display has both analogue hands and a digital display which can be used to show the chronograph and alarm functions and a different time zone.

Expanding Bracelet:

An expanding bracelet can be stretched to fit over the wearer's hand and then fit comfortably on the wrist.

Face:

This is also known as the dial. It is more commonly used to describe the dial of a clock.

Functional:

This term is often used to describe a watch which is water resistant and has three hands with a calendar or day/date.

Glass:

The glass is the crystal which covers the dial and protects the dial, hands and movement from dust and water. The glass or crystal in some less expensive watches is made of plastic. Mineral glass is strongly scratch resistant, whilst synthetic sapphire glass is virtually unscratchable and also particularly transparent giving sharp clarity to a dial.

Hands:

An analogue watch always has an hour and minute hand, often a second hand and sometimes hands in separate dials which indicate a different function e.g. stopwatch or alarm.

Hardlex glass:

This is a toughened mineral crystal glass developed by Seiko Watch Corporation which is highly resistant to knocks and scratching. Hardlex glasses are standard in all Seiko non-sports models

Kinetic:

Kinetic is Seiko’s name for a range of quartz watches that are unique to Seiko. They are the only watches in the world that are powered by the electricity that is generated by the movement of the wearer.

Leather:

Variety of different animal skins used in the manufacturer of watch straps including calf, crocodile, lizard etc.

Lumibrite:

A luminous, non radioactive substance used on watch and clock dials, hour markers and hands to enable these to be read in the dark. Lumibrite is a registered trademark of Seiko Watch Corporation.

Movement:

This refers to the inner workings or assembly that makes up the main timekeeping mechanism. Movements are either quartz or mechanical. This is the engine of the watch.

Perpetual Calendar:

Seiko's Perpetual Calendar watches will automatically adjust for months of different lengths and indicates February 29 in each leap year until the year 2100. This means you never have to reset the date.

Push button release:

This refers to the buttons which are situated on either side of a bracelet clasp. To unfasten the bracelet, simply press in the buttons and the clasp will open.

Sapphire Glass:

Sapphire glass is extremely hard to scratch or mark. It is second in hardness only to diamonds and is used in Seiko's Sportura and Premier range and some of our Kinetic watches

Sapphlex:

This is a newly developed glass used only in Seiko sports watches. It is made of a thin Sapphire glass bonded with a special adhesive to a Hardlex glass. It features the brilliance and hardness of Sapphire but is available at the cost of Hardlex.

Solar powered:

Quartz watches powered solely by light with no battery change required.

Tachymeter:

A tachymeter is normally used in conjunction with a stop watch to measure speed between two given points.

Titanium:

Seiko uses titanium in some watches as this metal is 30% stronger than steel, up to 50% lighter than steel, is nickel free and also resists atmospheric erosion.

Water resistance:

Whilst watches cannot be waterproof, some watches can resist certain water conditions. The water resistance of a watch is tested in 'still' conditions, so the number of metres on a watch face does not indicate the depth the watch can be taken to. Click here to see a full explanation.