WATCHES AND WATER

Water depth information

5ATM = 5 bar = 50 metres = 165 feet
10ATM = 10 bar = 100 metres = 330 feet
20 ATM = 20 bar = 200 metres = 660 feet
This information is found at the back or front of each watch. While 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 meters on a watch face does not indicate the depth the watch can be taken to.

It is not recommended to bath or shower with any watch. The reason for this is that the steam causes the rubber seal at the back of the watch to expand and contract which, over time, can cause damage to the seal.  The exception are Swatch watches as they have a sealed unit.

Indication	Water-related use
Water resistant characteristics	Light spray, Perspiration, Light rain, etc	Bathing, Showering	Swimming etc.	Skin diving (Diving without oxygen cylinder)
30 meters, 3 ATM, 3 BAR	OK	NO	NO	NO
50 meters, 5 ATM, 5 BAR	OK	NO	NO	NO
100 meters, 10 ATM, 10 BAR	OK	Not Recommended	OK	NO
200 meters, 20 ATM, 20 BAR	OK	Not Recommended	OK	OK

Always set the crown in the normal position

WATCH TERMINOLOGY

Swiss Movement

Very complex design which has over the years had to be modified and made simpler to allow for mass production and to stay up to date and affordable to customers due to competition.

Japanese Movement

Main competition for companies such as SWATCH as cheaper to produce due to there being fewer mechanisms inside.

Analogue

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

Automatic/Kinetic

An automatic is a mechanical watch whose mainspring is wound as a result of the wearers arm motion.

Bezel

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

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 functions of a stopwatch.

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.

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.

Glass

The glass is the crystal which covers the dial and protects the dial, hand 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 the 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

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.

Sapphire Glass

Sapphire glass is extremely hard to scratch or mark. It is second in hardness to diamonds.

Tachymeter

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

WATCH WARRANTY'S

• Watch warranty's cover defects that are attributable to materials and workmanship
• The warranty covers hands, face and movement only
• The following items are excluded from the warranty:
  • Battery, watch-glass and strap
  • Damage caused by improper treatment, lack of care, accidents or normal wear
• The warranty is valid only when the warranty certificate is completed fully and correctly by a specialist dealer
• The warranty becomes void if it has been tampered with ie. the date has been altered or tipexed out

CHRONOGRAPH FUNCTION

The 'Chrono' is a watch with a stopwatch function. This additional mechanism makes it possible to measure and record short times. By clicking on the top push button, the hands of the chronograph will start. By clicking again on the top push button the hands will stop. By clicking on the bottom push button, the hands of the chronograph will reset to zero.