Glossary
CHRONOGRAPH OR CHRONO
A Chronograph or Chrono watch tells the time and is also equipped with a timer mechanism or stopwatch. A chrono can be easily recognized by the extra push buttons, which release, stop, and reset the chronograph hand.
HELIUM ESCAPE VALVE
The helium valve was specifically developed for professional divers, who can work underwater for extended periods of time. During their breaks they rest in diving bells which are filled with a mixture of helium and oxygen.
A/H - AMPLITUDE
Amplitude (semi oscillation) of the balance is the change between peak (highest amplitude value) and trough (lowest amplitude value) within a one-hour period.
PVD PLATING
PVD stands for physical vapor deposition and offers the ultimate in robust and long-lasting color and composition. In the PVD process the watch case or strap is placed in a sealed, pressurized chamber where the material is vaporized, creating a saturated atmosphere.
GMT
The GMT function for wristwatches was originally developed in the 1950s for pilots whose job regularly took them back and forth between different time zones.
TELEMETER
A telemeter scale enables the calculation of the distance between an acoustic signal and its own position. Or, put more simply, it can be used to determine the proximity of a storm.
MOTHER OF PEARL
Iridescence is an optical phenomenon that gives Mother of Pearl its characteristic shine and produces a rainbow of different colors depending on how light hits it. The insides of certain seashells are made up of multiple thin layers of material, which are responsible for creating this shimmering effect.
TACHYMETER
The tachymeter scale on the watch face of a chronograph is used to measure the speed, e.g., of a car over a 1-km (0.62 miles) distance. The chronograph is activated when the vehicle passes the starting point and deactivated when the vehicle has reached the final point.
SUPERLUMINOVA
SuperLumiNova luminescent pigments are the latest patented development in the field of non-radioactive luminescent pigments. Thanks to their highly improved light storage capacity, these pigments can be used as luminescent markers on watch hands and dials.
TRITIUM GASEOUS TUBES
Tritium is a colorless gas and is the only naturally occurring radioisotope of hydrogen. The name Tritium originates from the Greek word meaning ‘tritos’ and refers to the three components of the atom (3H).
AUTOMATIC WINDING
In a watch that requires automatic winding, the centrifugal and gravitational forces are used as an energy source. A semicircular weight called the rotor or balance weight winds the spring through the arm movements of the person wearing the watch.
MOONPHASE ADJUSTMENT
The moonphase feature on a watch is designed to display the 29.5-day lunar cycle. However, in practice, this is complicated since the moon does not follow an exact 24-hour rhythm.