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 digital, analogue and duo-display watches. An alarm gives an audible signal when a pre-set time (set by the wearer) has been reached or at regular intervals.
Alpha-numeric - A display method using both letters and numbers for indicating time, day of the week, date and other types of information.
Ambient temperature - Temperature of the atmosphere within the surrounding environment.
Analogue - A timepiece with dial, hands and numbers or markers indicating the 12 hour time span, and not a digital display.
Analogue quartz - This refers to any analog timepiece that operates on a battery or on solar power and is regulated by a quartz crystal
Arabic numerals - 1,2,3,4,5 etc. used to indicate hour makers on the dial of the watch or clock face
Auto repeat timer - A feature that allows for continuous operation of a countdown timer. If timer function is set at one hour and started, it will countdown to zero, beep with a warning signal and immediately return to the preset time and start the countdown again. This would continue until the stop button is pushed.
Automatic - This is a mechanical watch in which the mainspring is wound as a result of the wearer's arms motion. This should not be confused with Kinetic watch technology.
Back light - A light used to highlight the display on digital watches to enable the display to be read at night.
Baguette - Ladies style watch with a thin, elongated face. A baguette is usually rectangular in shape but may be oval.
Band - An attachment fitted to the watch case to allow it to be worn on the wrist.
Band-Leather - A variety of different animal skins are used in the manufacture of watch straps including calf, crocodile, lizard etc. SEIKO use only approved animal straps.
Base metal - Any non-precious metal.
Batons (markers) - Oblong hour markers on the dial of a watch or clock face.
Battery life - The minimum period of time that a battery will continue to provide power to run the watch. Life begins at the point of manufacture when the factory installs the battery.
Bezel - The ring around the dial of a watch which holds the crystal in place. On some models (e.g. diver's watches) the bezel can be rotated to show elapsed time as well as other functions.
Bracelet - A bracelet is a metal band that holds the watch to the wearer's wrist instead of a leather strap.
Bracelet-Expanding - An expanding bracelet can be stretched to fit over the wearer's hand and then fit comfortably on the wrist.
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 rounded semi-precious stone or synthetic material usually black, fitted into the watch crown as an ornament. A type of ornate stone set crown.
Calendar - This is also referred to as the date function. A watch feature that shows the date and sometimes the day of the week and the month. It can be displayed through a cut-out window in the dial, as a sub-dial with small hands indicating the day/date feature or by digital readout. 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 - The size and factory number of a particular watch movement. The number denoting the calibre is displayed on the caseback of the watch, and is the first four digits before the hyphen in an eight digit number e.g. 7T62
Case - The case is the body of the watch to which the strap or bracelet is attached. This is the protective covering surrounding a watch movement, and comes in a variety of shapes. Primarily it is made from base metal, stainless steel, gold, etc. and includes a bezel, back and glass.
Caseback - The back of the watch
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. This feature allows one to record the length of an event starting from zero and to stop and start or go back to zero at the push of a button. A chronograph therefore performs the function of a stopwatch.
Clasp - The fastening mechanism attached to a bracelet. It connects the two ends of the watch bracelet or strap around the wrist.
Clasp- Deployment/buckle - The portion of the band designed to fasten and unfasten a buckle watch. Also known as a hidden clasp.
Countdown timer - Measures remaining time from a preset period of time.
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".
Crown- Screwdown locking - A crown which aides water resistance by sealing the crown against the case. The seal is achieved by matching of a threaded pipe on the case with the crown's internal threads and gasketing while twisting the crown to lock it into place
Crystal (glass) - The mineral or synthetic (glass-like) covering over the watch dial. Refer to glass.
Day/Date - This function on a watch shows the day of the week and/or date of the month.
Dial (face) - This is the face of the watch. In an analogue watch the dial consists of numerals or markers indicating the time divisions enabling the wearer to tell the time.
Digital - A timepiece that shows the time in numbers, rather than by hands on a dial. The numbers appear in LCD (liquid crystal diode) which shows a continuous reading or in LED (light emitting diode) which shows time at the push of a button.
Diver's watches - Diver's watches are designed and manufactured to meet ISO (International Standardisation Organisation) regulations, as the lives of the diver's depend on the reliability of their watch in the water. SEIKO Diver's watches meet various standards regarding water resistancy, pressure resistancy, readability in the water, etc., and have the word "Divers" on the dial of the watch.
Dual Time - Capability of a watch to display time in two different time zones.
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.
Electro luminescent display - A bright blue-green panel lit by current from the battery at the press of a button, which then stays luminated for three seconds. This type of dial lumination provides easy reading of the time and other data in the dark or under water.
Face (dial) - This is also known as the dial. It is more commonly used to describe the dial of a clock. Refer to dial.
Finish - The surface texture of cases and bands, such as highly polished, satin, metal injection moulding, etc.
Frequency - The measurement of oscillations per second. The oscillation rate of the quartz crystal depends on the shape and the way it is cut.
Functional - This term is often used to describe a watch which is water resistant and has three hands with a calendar or day/date.
Generating rotor - A permanent rotating magnet capable of achieving an instantaneous speed equivalent to 100,000 revolutions per minute.
Glass - The glass is the crystal which covers the dial and protects the dial, hands and movement from dust and water. There are five types of glass used in SEIKO, PULSAR, and LORUS. They are: Acrylic Glass This is a plastic glass also known as a plexi. It is easier to scratch than Hardlex crystal, and reflects more light. Shallow scratches can be buffed out easily. Hardlex Glass This is a toughened mineral crystal glass developed by the SEIKO Watch Corporation, which is highly resistant to knocks and scratching. Hardlex glass is standard in most SEIKO, PULSAR and LORUS models. Mineral Glass A synthetic mineral crystal glass which is highly resistant to knocks and scratches Sapphire Glass A synthetic sapphire glass which is extremely hard to scratch or mark. This glass is second in hardness only to a diamond and is used mostly in the Premium Collection. Sapphlex Glass A new type of glass also developed by and unique to SEIKO. Sapphlex glass is a combination of SEIKO's superior Sapphire and Hardlex glass. The base of the glass is Hardlex and the top is Sapphlex. It is used only in SEIKO sports watches.
Hands - An analogue watch always has an hour and minute hand. Analogue watches often have a second hand and may sometimes have hands in separate dials, which indicate a different function e.g. stopwatch or alarm
Instant start function - A function of some SEIKO Kinetic models whereby the electrical charge bypasses the large volume capacitor and sends a signal to the control capacitor to start the watch.
Integrated circuit (IC) - A miniature electronic contained within a silicon chip. In a watch it converts the regular oscillations of the quartz into timekeeping units, which are then passed on to the hands of an analogue watch, through the step motor to the display panel of a digital watch
Kinetic - Kinetic is a SEIKO category of watches that differ from standard quartz watches in that they never need a regular battery change. SEIKO Kinetic watches use the simple motion of the wearer's arm to create electricity to run the watch, and stores it in a rechargeable battery. Accurate to approximately 20 seconds +/- per month.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) - The type of display used in digital watches. Shows dark digits on light coloured background.
Lithium ion - A light metallic element used in Hyper Capacitor for the storage of electricity.
Logo - The trade name on the dial or crystal identifying the manufacturer or distributor of a brand of watch.
Luminous - A luminous, non radioactive substance used on watch and clock dials, hour markers and hands to enable these to be read in the dark. Luminous is a registered trademark of SEIKO.
Luminous - Self illuminating paint used on hands and markers.
Metal injection moulding - Unique method of manufacturing steel cases and bracelets. Metal is heated to a very high temperature and injected into a mould to create highly uniquely formed shapes.
Mode - The mode switch or button of a watch which controls or selects the function to be used.
Moon phase - A wheel on a watch partially showing through a cut-out window indicating the lunar phases.
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.
Phenol resin - An activated charcoal fibre used in a capacitor for the storage of electricity.
Power cell - In watches, a small button or coin sized metal container with metal salts and chemicals inside which react with each other is used to generate a voltage. This furnishes the electrical power to run the watch.
Power reserve indicator - A on some SEIKO Kinetic watches that advances the second hand to indicate the power reserve in the capacitor.
Pressure test - A method of testing the water resistance of watch cases by air/water pressure.
Push button releas - 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.
Quartz - A natural or commercially synthesized silicon dioxide crystal. Used in quartz analogue or solid state digital watches. When activated by a battery or solar power, the thin sliver of crystal very predictably vibrates at an extremely high frequency (32,768 times per second) thus providing very accurate time keeping.
Seals - Rubber or plastic gaskets used to protect watch movements from the entry of moisture or foreign material into the case.
Shock resistant - A level of resistance to damage from shock that is equal to being dropped from a height of one metre onto a hardwood surface
Solar powered - Quartz watches powered solely by light with no battery change required. Solar watches convert light energy into electronic energy. A supplementary power used to extend battery life. Accurate to approximately 20 seconds +/- per month.
Split time measurement - Measures the elapsed time of a certain moment during an event. The chronograph keeps running while split time is being displayed. Therefore, when spilt time is released the display returns to original measurement of total elapsed time. If you want to know the elapsed time at a certain point during a race, you can tell the exact time by using this
Stainless steel - An alloy consisting of iron, chromium and other metals which make a product highly resistant to rust and ordinary corrosion.
Stem - A thin round metal pin or rod attached to the crown, which is rotated to wind mechanical watches, or pulled out and rotated to set the time or other functions on a non-mechanical watch. It is located inside the watch movement, and is threaded on its outer where the crown is attached.
Step motor - The combination of a coil, rotor and stator used to create movement through the gear train to the watch hands to form the impulse signal given out of the Integrated Circuit.
Stopwatch - A wrist or pocket watch used specifically to record elapsed time. May not include normal time keeping functions such as hour, minute and second, although usually does in digital types. (See chronograph)
Strap - A watch band made of leather, plastic or fabric. Refer to band.
Tachymeter - A tachymeter is normally used in conjunction with a stop watch to measure speed between two given points.
Three-fold clasp - This refers to the fastening mechanism on bracelets. There are three sections that fold together and are secured by pushing the clasp. To release, the clasp is lifted or the release catch is pushed.
Titanium - Titanium is a space age metal that is 30% stronger than steel, up to 50% lighter than steel. It is also nickel-free, non-allergenic, extremely resistant to salt water and other forms of corrosion, and able to withstand extreme temperatures.
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. Watches come in different water resistant depths and diver's depths: * Water resistant - will withstand splashes of water or in but should not be worn while swimming or diving. * Water tested to 50m - suitable for showering or swimming in shallow water * Water tested to 100m - suitable for swimming and snorkeling * Water tested to 150m - suitable for snorkeling * Water tested to 200m - suitable for skin diving * Diver's to 150m - Meets ISO Standards and is suitable for scuba diving * Diver's to 200m - Meets ISO Standards and is suitable for scuba diving