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  • FHH Academy

    Train and Certify, The Academy masters, delivers and measures watchmaking knowledge worldwide.

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    The Watch Forum provides a platform for debate to help craft the industry of tomorrow.

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    Attract new audiences and present watchmaking in a new light.

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Who are we

A not-for-profit foundation set up under private law in 2005 by Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux and Richemont, the objective of the FHH is to promote and spread the reputation of watchmaking excellence around the world.

It provides information on the latest news, history and skills within the watchmaking professions. It trains, assesses and certifies horological knowledge. It organises events and encounters intended for both the general public and professionals. A creator of content, competencies, connections and experiences, the FHH is supported by leading names in the watch industry and independent creators, all actively contributing to its activities.


Head office

Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

Pont de la Machine 1

1204 Geneva | Switzerland

T +41 22 808 58 60

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  • Glossary

    • Accutron

      The first electronic watch, controlled by a tuning fork and launched by Bulova in 1960.

    • Bar

      Unit of measure to indicate a watch's water-resistance, specifically its capacity to resist pressure, based on standard atmospheric pressure defined as 101.325 kilopascals (kPa) equivalent to...

    • Calibre

      Synonym of size. Sully used this term circa 1715 to denote the layout and dimensions of the different movement pillars, wheels, barrel, etc. Since then "calibre" has been used to...

    • Day

      Period between the rising and setting of the Sun. A 24-hour interval, determined by the Earth's rotation on its axis.

    • Engine turn

      To cut metal with decorative engraving by hand or using an engine turning machine.

    • Flirt (independent seconds)

      A small rod, driven by a separate train, whose end meshes with the escape-pinion's leaves. The flirt is released every second and makes one complete revolution. This movement is transferred to the...

    • Glucidur (Glucydur)

      A highly elastic, hard, amagnetic and corrosion-proof alloy used to make monometallic balances, escapements and balance-springs.

    • Horn

      That part of a watch case to which the strap is attached. Horns come in various shapes and are attached to the case middle.

    • Isochronal (Isochronous)

      Recurring at regular intervals. The oscillations of a pendulum or balance are isochronal when their duration is the same regardless of their amplitude.

    • Jade

      Jade is a gem group with jadeite and nephrite as the two varieties. Jadeite is the variety that ranges in colour from green to white to lilac to brown to almost black. Nephrite, the more ancient...

    • Knot

      A raised mineral inclusion in a diamond found at the surface.

    • Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

      A segmented luminous source used to display numerals on electronic digital watches. Operated by a push-button.

    • Master

      A watchmaker who has presented his masterpiece or test piece.

    • Natural pearl

      A natural pearl is also called an oriental pearl. This pearl is formed by an oyster, freshwater mussel or other mollusc as a reaction to a tiny invading object that happened to be caught inside...

    • Onyx

      A black agate that is often found as watch dials.

    • Pivot

      A part that runs in a fixed support (bearing).

    • Quartz

      Silicon dioxide. Also called rock crystal. Quartz has the specific property of vibrating at a very high frequency (32 MHz) placed under electric current. Under certain conditions, it...

    • Rack

      A straight or curved bar with teeth.

    • Shockproof

      Designed to withstand shocks without being damaged. See also shock absorber and Incabloc®.

    • Tsavorite

      A rare, deep green variety of grossular garnet. The green colour comes from vanadium and chromium. A Tsavorite of over two carats are very rare. This gemstone has a hardness of 7.5 and a specific...

    • Under-dial work

      Collective term for the mechanisms, such as for striking, a calendar or motionwork, between the dial and the dial plate.

    • Vermeil

      Silver covered with a thin layer of gold.

    • Wind

      The action of tightening the mainspring coiled inside the barrel by means of the winding crown (in a hand-wound watch) or the rotor (in a self-winding watch).

    • Year

      A four-digit indication of the current year that changes automatically at midnight on December 31st.

    • Zodiac

      At the heart of countless legends and beliefs, since ancient times precious stones have had symbolic value. From the Jews to the Egyptians, each culture and religion has given a different meaning...

    Expand Glossary

Glossary

From A to Z, we've got watchmaking covered!