10 watch terms you need to know

Automatic

Automatic watches require no battery to operate; they are powered by an internal spring wound up by the motion of the watch itself. In order to keep them powered, they must be worn or wound every day, but if treated with care they should continue ticking for years. However, due to the nature of the movement, they could lose a minute or two each week, so be sure to keep an eye on the time!

Rolex Datejust 41 Automatic watch, £6,900

Quartz

The most common way of powering a watch is with a quartz movement. A special type of quartz crystal inside the watch moves when a current, usually provided by a battery, runs through it. Due to the precision of the movement, these watches are more accurate than their mechanically complex automatic counterparts.

Tag Heuer Formula 1 Fangio quartz watch, £1,350

Chronograph

A chronograph is a watch with the added complication of a stopwatch. As well as displaying the time, there are additional dials inside the face, controlled by a button on the side of the watch. These sporty models are perfect for timing a race.

Rado HyperChrome Chronograph watch, £3,710

Dual timer

For those who travel and work across different time zones, a dual-time model is invaluable. As well as displaying the home time, a separate movement and a dial around the edge of the watch or within the face is used to display a separate time zone. World timer models are also available, displaying the current time of up to 24 different time zones across the globe.

Breitling Navitimer watch, £6,130

Perpetual calendar

Another complication commonly added to a watch is a perpetual calendar. As well as telling the time, the watch will also display the date automatically and update to accommodate for leap years, giving you no excuse for missing an important engagement.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar watch, price on request

Moon phase

Throughout the history of horology, much has been made of the connection between time and the moon and stars. Subsequently, another common complication is a moon phase display, which displays the phases of the moon throughout its 29 ½ day cycle.

IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase watch, £10,950

Day/night

A watch with a day/night indicator is a literal indication of whether it is daytime or night in your current location. Often depicted by a small sun and moon that travel across the watch during the day, it is often added to dual-time models to give a sense of time in different locations.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Night and Day watch, £13,000

Skeleton

When a watchmaker really wants to show off its exquisite craftsmanship, a skeleton display is the only way to go. The dial itself is created from a transparent material allowing the wearer to see the inner workings of their watch, particularly automatic models. This can also be described an exhibition case back, which displays the workings in the reverse.

Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Magic Gold skeleton watch, price on request

Diving

A diving watch is a model that has been made to withstand extreme pressure, particularly underwater. All diving models are tested to at least 200m water resistance, with some models boasting up to 1000m depths. The models tend to be made with special fabric or rubber straps and use metals that are resistant to saltwater corrosion.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT Big Blue diving watch, £8,320

Tourbillon

If you’re looking for the ultimate in mechanical watchmaking precision, a tourbillon is the only way to go. Tourbillon watches house a special type of movement that defies gravity by rotating to counter its effects and allow for the most accurate of timekeeping. The movement itself is incredibly complicated to produce and will only be found in the most premium of models.

Breguet Classic GC Tourbillon watch, £112,200