Watch Terminology Explained, Part 2 (D-O)

A glossary of watch terminology explained, listed in alphabetical order (continued from Part 1):

D

Deployment clasp

A hidden clasp usually found on a watch’s metal band/bracelet.

Dial

Also referred to as the watch face.

Digital watch

A watch that digitally displays the time in numbers (no dial/hands).

Diver's Watch
>>Click here to buy<<

Diver's watch

Divers watches are ruggedly designed for underwater diving with specific water resistance/pressure requirements and other features like luminous hand and markers so you can see in low light.  A diver’s watch should also have a movable bezel so you can mark the amount of time you intend to spend underwater.  Divers watches should be manufactured to ISO standards and regulations (International Standardisation Organisation).

Dual time

Enables you to display the time of 2 different time zones.

Duo display

Analog hands and digital display in one watch.  Could be used for different functions like showing a different time zone or chronograph for example.

Eco-drive Watch
>>Click here to buy<<

E

Eco-Drive

Developed by Citizen, Eco-drive watches are powered by light (natural or artificial) and so never need a battery.

F

Face

Also referred to as the dial of a watch.

H

Hands

Hands are found on an analog watch and move to display the current time.  Some watches have 2 hands displaying the hour and minutes, while other watches may have 3 hands displaying the hour, minutes and seconds.

Kinetic Watch
>>Click here to buy<<

K

Kinetic/Kinetic Direct Drive

Developed by Seiko, Kinetic utilizes the motion of the watch wearer’s wrist to convert movement into electrical energy to power the watch.  Kinetic Direct Drive utilizes the same Kinetic energy but also offers the option of generating energy by winding the crown.

L

LCD/LED

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display and is used to display the time in numbers on digital watches (typically dark numbers displayed on a light background).  LED stands for Light Emitting Diodes and is another type of Liquid Crystal Display found in digital watches.

Luminous hands/markers

Luminous hands/markers enable the time on an analog watch to be seen in low light or darkness.

M

Mechanical movement

Moon/lunar phase
>>Click here to buy<<

The winding of a coiled spring to store energy that is then released at regulated intervals through a series of gears for time-keeping.

Mineral window

The transparent mineral glass-type window that protects the watch face.  More scratch resistant than acrylic crystal.

Moon/lunar phase

Displays the moon/lunar phases, typically via a wheel through a cut-out window display on the watch.


>> Click here to go back to Part 1 of Watch Terminology Explained (A-C)

>> Click here to go forward to Part 3 of Watch Terminology Explained (P-Z)

Ad >>Click here to buy from a great range of top best-selling Men's & Women's watches at DISCOUNTED LOW PRICES<<



*Prices/discounts/shipping indicated correct at time of writing/publishing and may be subject to change anytime.  E&OE.


Related articles:

• Watch Terminology Explained, Part 1 (A-C)
• Watch Terminology Explained, Part 3 (P-Z)
• Top Wrist-Watch Features & Functions Explained
• Different Types of Watch Crystal Dial Windows Explained
• Swiss-made versus Japanese Movement in Watches Explained
• Wrist-Watch Water Resistance Ratings Explained

Click here to go back to homepage