Learn all the top terms, most frequent references and some leading brands with our horological A to Z!
A
Accuracy - This is the term for describing the daily tolerance for error in the displayed time of a watch. Quartz watches average accuracy of ±30 seconds per month, whereas watches with a mechanical movement average ±30 seconds per day. For deviating in time scale it is known as 'time drift'
Altimeter - This is a complication used to measure altitude, making is super useful for pilots and hikers.
Aperture - Small opening in the dial that displays information such as date, day, month or the moon phase.
Automatic - A mechanical watch that is wound by the wearers wrist not be winding the crown. The motion of the wrist moves a counterweight (called a rotor) that then powers the mainspring, which turns the watch’s gears.
Alarm function - yes; Wristwatches with an alarm function are also available in mechanical versions. The best-known model with an alarm function is the very fabulous Memovox by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Audemars Piguet - Top brand and manufacturer of fine watches, referred to often as just 'AP'.
Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet established their workshop in 1875. Amazingly the company is still in the hands of the founding families today. They are famous for watches such as their Royal Oak - 90% of AP watches sold today are types of their Royal Oak.
At the time of writing we have two available in store!
Air-King - The Rolex Air-King watch was launched in 1945 as part ofa collection of watches to honour the achievements of the RAF pilots involved in World War Two. The Air-King is the only one of that series that is still in production today, the other lines were discontinued in the 60s. The on dial writing 'Air-King' is still in the same lettering style designed for it in the 1950s. You can find this one; below, in our store now-
A. Lange & Sohne - a Prestigious German watch maker that began in 1845 but had to cease trading in 1948 following the occupation by the Soviet Union after the Second World War. The current company was restarted in 1990 by Walter Lange, the great-grandson of the founder. Their watches are known for intricate complications and are all designed and created entirely in-house.