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five-minute repeater - A complicated watch that strikes (chimes) the hours and five-minute intervals.
fly-back hand - A feature of a watch which allows you to measure fractions of a second and elapsed time by two separate recording hands, independently of the watch displaying normal time.
fob - A small, decorative object that is attached to a pocket watch chain and worn outside the pocket or vest for viewing. Objects such as lodge and commercial company logos were very popular, as well as miniature objects like trains and horses.
GMT - Greenwich Mean Time is the standard for timekeeping and was introduced in England in 1880. It is the Mean Time of a Solar Day.
gold-filled - A thin sheet of gold (normally at least 20 microns thick) which is bonded to one or both sides of a base metal.
gold-plated - A coating of a gold alloy over a base metal by either electro-depositing and/or a chemical process. Recommended minimum thickness should be 10 microns thick.
Greenwich Mean Time - Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the standard for timekeeping introduced in England in 1880. It is the mean time of a solar day.
guilloche - A pattern or style of pattern on a case or dial known as “engine-turned.”
hack movement - A style of movement normally fitted with a sweep center seconds hand, where the balance assembly is stopped when the watch is placed in the setting position. This allows the time to be set more accurately.
hairspring - An internal part of a watch which helps control the balance wheel’s oscillations. Sometimes referred to as the balance spring.
half-quarter hour repeater - A complicated watch that strikes (chimes) the hours and nearest half-quarter hour.
hand - An indicator mounted over a dial or scale to indicate the time or other functions of a watch. It is normally made of metal in many styles and designs.
horologist - A person who practices the art and science of horology.
horology - The scientific and artistic study of the working of mechanisms designed to indicate the time of day and the measurement of the passage of time.
hunting case - A style of case that has a closed lid or cover over the dial which can be opened and closed by a spring-release button. Both pocket and wrist watches use this style of case design.
Incabloc - A type of shock-resisting system where the jewels have springs to hold them in place. This allows the balance to have some “give” if the watch receives a shock.
jewel - The internal part of a watch used to reduce friction, such as a bearing. Normally made of synthetic material. However, some high grade watches use both precious and semi-precious stones.
jumping hour - A watch with apertures on a solid case front with small dials behind the apertures displaying one hour indications at a time. Normally, minutes are displayed in a semi-circular aperture which displays more than one minute indications on a circular dial.
karat - Standard by which the fineness or purity of gold is defined. 24 karat fine is pure gold (1000/1000 parts). 18 karat is 75% pure gold (750/1000 parts). 14 karat is 56% pure gold (560/1000 parts).
karruesel - Self-compensating device designed to overcome various vertical position timing errors. The entire escapement and balance assembly is mounted on a carriage and revolves like a tourbillon, only more slowly.
key-set - Method of setting the hands of a keywind/keyset pocket watch by using a small key. The key is placed on the setting arbor and turned to set the hands.
key-wind - Refers to winding an antique watch with the use of a key and winding arbor on the movement.
L.E.D. - (Liquid Electronic Display). A semi-conductor diode which transforms applied voltage and converts it into light. LED is used in digital displays on electronic quartz watches.
Leap Year - One extra day (February 29) is added to the calendar every four years to compensate for the quarter-day difference in an ordinary year (Mean Solar Year) and the astronomical year (Sidereal Year).
lever set - Method of setting the hands on a pocket watch by using a lever located under the bezel. The lever is pulled to the "out" position, then the winding crown is turned to set the hands.
Liquid Electronic Display - (LED) A semi-conductor diode which transforms applied voltage and converts it into light. LED is used in digital displays on electronic quartz watches.
lugs - Two pairs of case extensions at opposite ends of the case which allow attachment of the band or bracelet to the watch case.
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