Chronograph: A timing function on a watch, like a stop-watch.
Perpetual calendar: A calendar function that holds the correct date and/or day irrespective of long or short months or leap years.
Pusher: A push button, usually just called a button, for adjustment or use of functions on the watch.
World Time: A watch that can display numerous time zones either at once or by selection.
Rotating bezel: A bezel that can rotate allowing for functional use for timing, calculating, locating, etc.
Dial: The part of the watch that shows the time. Does not include the metal frame around the dial which is called the 'bezel'.
Strap: Made of leather, plastic, nylon, cloth, rubber etc to hold the watch on the wrist.
Bracelet: Made of metal. Holds the watch on the wrist.
Subdial: A small dial on the main dial of the watch, usually has seconds, or can be a part of a chronograph function, date display, day display etc.
Crown: The "knob" (usually on the right) of the watch used to adjust time and date, or wind up the watch
Bezel: The outer rim of the watch that faces towards the front. This does not include the glass or dial and may have decoration, stone settings, moving parts.
Case-Back: The removable back of the watch casing, usually made of steel or titanium, can be screwed in or may be pressed in. Some case-backs may use several small screws to hold it in place.
Lug: The part of the watch (usually two on each side of the casing) onto which the strap or bracelet is attached.
Bi-folding buckle: A buckle made of two parts that allows the bracelet to expand and fit over the hand without coming completely undone.
Jewellery clasp: A fastening on the bracelet that comes completely undone and allows the watch to be laid flat in the open position.
Lobster claw clasp: A type of jewellery clasp that uses a spring and claw arrangement to allow the bracelet to be clipped together (usually onto a chain) at various lengths.
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Answer: The finishes on most of our watches fall into one of the following categories:
Stainless Steel
- An all steel case can be one of three different surface finishes: 1.
Polished steel: has a highly polished mirror finish. 2. Brushed steel:
has a non-reflective surface of fine scourings which is probably best
at hiding scratches. 3. Matte steel: a totally non-reflective matte
surface of even texture and colouring, great for hiding finger prints
Gold Micron-A gold finish that's applied by an electroplating process to ensure a strong bond between the liquid gold and the base metal.
IP
(Ion Plating)-A highly advanced dry plating process where a special
metal is vacuum discharged onto the case or bracelet to produce a
uniform gold tone.
TiCN-A composite finish made of
titanium/carbon/nitride. It creates lustrous satin and polished
finishes in a palette of blacks and grays.
Titanium-An
environmentally friendly, natural metal that is 40% stronger and 30%
lighter than stainless steel. It's also highly resistant to salt water,
corrosion and extreme temperatures. An ideal finish for watches used in
water sports.
Two-Tone-This term refers to the practice
of using two colors on the case and band. You'll see mixtures of black
and gold; stainless or palladium and gold; and gray and gold.
Answer: Watch crystals are made from a variety of materials, including:
Acrylic-Plastic crystals are not as scratch- or glare-resistant as are expensive formulations. Shallow scratches can be buffed out.
Hardlex
(Seiko) or Mineral-A heat-treated composite material containing barium
and silicon. It withstands scratching and marring better than glass.
Sapphire-The most durable of all crystals is three times as hard as Hardlex and ten times harder than acrylic.
Sapphlex (Seiko)-A highly scratch-resistant composite made of Sapphire and Hardlex.
Answer:
Watches may be designated as water resistant. The term "waterproof" is
a myth. No watch ever manufactured is entirely waterproof and the term
is no longer used by reputable manufacturers. While you might think a
water resistant rating such as "water tested to 50 meters" would mean
that someone could safely wear a watch, say, scuba diving, it's really
not that simple. Why? Because testing is done in still water, with a
stationary watch. Movement greatly increases pressure, so it's
necessary to translate the water resistance ratings into practical
guidelines.
From the least to the most water resistant, the ratings are as follows:
* Water Resistant
These watches have withstood testing to depths of 24 to 30 meters (100
feet) and will tolerate splashes of water or rain, but should not be
worn while bathing, showering, washing dishes, swimming or diving.
Watches with this designation will have the words Water Resistant
engraved on the caseback. * Water tested to 50 meters (165
feet) Okay for showering, bathing, dishwashing and swimming in shallow
water. Not while snorkeling or scuba diving. The designation engraved
on the caseback will be Water Resistant 5 BAR (BAR is a European
equivalent of the international measurement ATM, or "atmospheres." To
calculate the water-tested depth in meters, multiply the BAR number by
10.) * Water tested to 100 meters (330 feet) These watches
are suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not scuba diving. The
caseback designation will read Water Resistant 10 BAR. * Water-tested to 150 meters
(500 feet) These watches can be worn for general water sports,
including snorkeling. The caseback designation is Water Resistant 15
BAR. * Water tested to 200 meters (660 feet) These watches
can be worn for general water sports, including snorkeling and skin
diving (without scuba gear). The caseback designation is Water
Resistant 20 BAR. * Diver's 150 meters (500 feet) Meets ISO standards and is suitable for scuba diving. * Diver's 200 meters
(660 feet) Diver's watches with the Water Resistant 20 BAR designation
can be worn for recreational scuba diving but not for professional
deepwater diving. * Diver's 300 meters (990 feet) Divers watches designated for professional use and mixed gas (helium enriched) diving. * Diver's 1000 meters
(3300 feet) Let's face it, this is for status and probably has nothing
to do with diving! Diver's watches rated at this level of water
resistance are for the career diver who has regular exposure to deep
water conditions.
Answer:
"KINETIC" refers to Seiko's latest and most technically advanced
watches, which contain their own internal electrical
generators--operated by natural wrist movements--making them
independent of conventional storage batteries. Fuller technical details
and some of the latest models are introduced in the Kinetic area of
Seiko's website.
Answer:
ECO Drive is Citizen's environmentally friendly solar powered brand of
wristwatches that charge using any kind of light source. Power is
generated when the dial is exposed to light and stored in a secondary
cell. Sufficient power can be stored to power the watch without further
charging for between 3 months and 1 year (depending on the model).
Answer:
LumiBrite is a new luminous material, brighter and longer lasting than
conventional luminous paints, and completely free of radioactive
materials, making it safe for both people and the environment.
Answer:
We normally offer either one year or two year warranty on our watches,
depending on the model and brand. Please refer to our section entitled
"Warranty Terms and Conditions" for full warranty details.
If my watch bought from Eurowatches needs repair?
Answer:
Please refer to our section entitled "Warranty Terms and Conditions"
for full details on warranty claims. We do not honour warranties for
items not purchased through us but we will be happy to handle your
repair at regular charge rates.
For a battery replacement or can any watchmaker do it?
Answer:
You do not have to send a water-resistant watch to eurowatches for a
battery change. However, you should have a qualified technician change
the battery. Both water-resistant watches and sport diver watches
should be pressure-tested after the battery is changed.
Such as the bracelet, pins, crystal, buckle, strap from Eurowatches?
Answer: Please contact us for any parts inquiries at service@eurowatches.co.nz
Answer:
We are happy to adjust the watchstrap on your new watch for you for a
good fit, however in most cases this requires you to attend in person.
If you cannot come in person we will need the exact measurement of your
wrist circumference in the position where you would normally wear your
watch. Simply use a measuring tape wrapped firmly around your wrist.
Answer:
To avoid damage caused by battery leakage, it is important to replace
the battery as soon as possible. We recommend that you take your watch
to any professional jeweller or watchmaker to have the battery replaced
immediately after you notice that power is low or your watch has
stopped working.
Answer:
We do not supply watch parts to the public. We do stock parts however
and in many cases can source replacements for your watch. Please
contact us at service@eurowatches.co.nz for more information. Remember
to note in your email your watch brand, model number, case number,
calibre number and serial number. If you have trouble identifying any
of these details we will be happy to help.
Answer:
Watch accuracy depends on the movement used in the watch. Please refer
to the information in your instruction booklet. If the accuracy of your
watch is outside the standard range, we recommend you contact us.
Answer:
Quartz watches are designed to provide a lifetime of accurate and
reliable service. However, every two or three years, or when you
replace the battery, you should visit an appointed dealer or Authorized
Service Center. They will inspect your watch for any worn parts that
may need replacement, check whether it needs lubrication, and whether
perspiration or water, dust, etc., have gotten inside. Please note
that KINETIC, ECO Drive and digital watches should also be given
checkups in the same way, for they also can suffer from the same
effects of perspiration, dust, etc., and may need to be taken apart and
cleaned.
Answer:
Metal bracelets should be washed carefully in water. If really dirty,
use a soft toothbrush with soap and water to brush away the dirt.
Finally, rinse with water and dry carefully with a soft cloth. If your
watch is not water resistant, be careful not to get water on the case.
Cases should be wiped gently with a slightly moistened soft cloth and
then dried carefully. Leather straps should be slightly loosened in
the summer, when they may absorb perspiration. A tight strap not only
prevents the passage of air over the strap undersurface but can also
cause a perspiration rash on the wrist. If the strap ever becomes wet with perspiration, wipe it dry with a soft cloth. When
you take off your watch, leave it in a well-ventilated spot. Never put
it in a sealed container when it is still damp with perspiration. Avoid leaving your watch in direct sunlight. The strap color may fade.
Answer:
It doesn't usually affect digital quartz watches, but it can affect
analogue watches, which use a tiny electric motor to turn the hands.
Powerful magnetism can affect the performance of this motor. The
good news is that although analogue watches may gain time, lose time,
or even stop under the influence of powerful magnetic fields, they will
usually return to normal time-keeping as soon as they leave the source
of magnetism. (You may need to reset your watch, of course.) Avoid
putting your watch near medical equipment, headphones, loudspeakers, or
refrigerator door magnets. Electric mixers and blenders and a wide
range of other electrical equipment may also have strong enough
magnetism to affect timekeeping.
Answer:
Shocks: Your watch is a precision measuring instrument. Treat it
carefully, and it will serve you well. Avoid undue shocks (such as
dropping on hard surfaces). The normal shocks caused by sports like
tennis or golf present no threat. Perspiration: You should aim to
protect your watch from heavy perspiration. Please remember to wipe it
dry as soon as conveniently possible. Temperature Extremes: Quartz
watches are much less affected by extremes of temperature than
mechanical watches, and are designed to keep good time if worn on the
wrist for eight hours a day with ambient temperatures between -10o and
+35oC. If removed completely from the wrist, your watch may lose time
during the winter, but will return to normal accuracy as soon as you
start wearing it again. If your watch is stored at temperatures
outside the normal range (as low as -10oC or as high as +60oC) the
electronic components may cease to function normally. The response
time of liquid crystals used in the displays on digital watches at
temperatures below freezing is slow, and they tend to look very dark at
high temperatures, but normal performance returns at normal
temperatures. Battery life can be significantly reduced at high temperatures (above 40oC), and battery fluid may even leak out. Chemicals:
Chemical substances, gases, mercury, etc., may change the color of
cases, bracelets and straps. Mercury (for instance, from a broken
thermometer) can cause particularly unsightly gray discoloration of
gold plating.
Answer: Yes, Ion plating is a physical vapor deposition technique to form metal coatings on metals and alloys.
The
specimen to be coated (in this case, your watch case, bracelet or other
parts) is placed in an inert gas (often argon), together with some
coating material. Next, a certain heating temperature and a low-voltage
arc is applied to evaporate the metallic component of the coating
material. The ionized particles are accelerated to a high energy, and
the coating is formed due to the bombardment of these accelerated
particles, reaching the specimen to be coated.
The biggest
difference between ion plating and sputter deposition is the way of
creating the ionized particles. Instead of evaporation by a low-voltage
arc, in sputtering the metal ions are removed from a metal plate by
bombardment with argon ions.
Ion plated steel items like watches
have the highest resistance to scratches and general wear and tear
compared to electroplated metals.
