Close
  • FHH Academy
  • FHH Forum
  • Watches and Culture
  • FHH Academy

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

    More information

  • FHH Forum

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

    More information

  • Watches and Culture

    Attract new audiences and present watchmaking in a new light.

    More information

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 00

Watches and Culture: Did you know?

    • a

      A

    • b

      B

    • c

      C

    • d

      D

    • e

      E

    • f

      F

    • g

      G

    • h

      H

    • i

      I

    • j

      J

    • k

      K

    • l

      L

    • m

      M

    • n

      N

    • o

      O

    • p

      P

    • q

      Q

    • r

      R

    • s

      S

    • t

      T

    • u

      U

    • v

      V

    • w

      W

    • y

      Y

    • z

      Z

    Prev Next
  • Glossary

    • Alarm

      A pocket watch, wristwatch or clock that automatically sounds at a preset time. The alarm function regained in popularity with the launch, by Eterna in 1908, of a wristwatch with alarm.

    • Balance spring

      A very fine spring and the "heart" of a mechanical watch. Its ends are affixed to the balance and the balance-cock. Its elasticity allows the balance to make regular oscillations. Its length, and...

    • Complication

      Any function other than the indication of hours, minutes and seconds, regardless of whether the mechanism is hand-wound or self-winding, mechanical or electronic, and of movement height. The...

    • Disconnect

      To interrupt the transmission of movement between two parts. The winding mechanism is an example of a mechanism whose parts are connected and disconnected.

    • Emerald

      The saturated green variety of the Beryl family. Its colour is due to minute traces of chromium or sometimes vanadium. Inclusions in emerald are called jardins from the French word for garden....

    • Frequency

      The number of oscillations per second, measured in Hertz. The balance makes a to-and-fro movement at a given frequency (two vibrations). The higher the frequency, the more accurate the watch:...

    • Grain

      A unit of weight for fine pearls: one grain equals a quarter of a carat or 0.05 grams. In stone-setting, the grain is a shaving of metal lifted from the mount and bent over the stone to...

    • Hammer

      A metal part that strikes gongs causing them to vibrate and produce sound. See...

    • Indicator

      A watch's indicators are its dial and hands.

    • Jumping seconds

      On a chronograph, a hand that makes one rotation every second, pausing four, five, even eight times to indicate quarters, fifths or eighths of a second. Also called foudroyante.

    • Kunzite

      A transparent pink or light purple gemstone and is a variety of spodumene. The colour of some kunzite can be enhanced by irradiation. Kunzite has a hardness of 6-7 and a specific gravity of 3.1 -...

    • Large date

      A date function with large numerals on two independent discs, displayed through oversized apertures. In 1994, A. Lange & Söhne displays for the first the the Large Date in the...

    • Marker

      A symbol that replaces some or all of the numerals on a dial.

    • Niello

      An enamel-like alloy of lead, copper, silver, sulphur and sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride). Niello paste is applied over incised gold or silver then fired in the enamellist's furnace. Excess...

    • Official rating certificate

      A document, issued by an Observatory or an official ratings bureau, that certifies the quality of a watch which has proven, in trials, to meet with a given standard. Only a watch that has received...

    • Parts

      The various elements used to make or repair a watch. In the latter case, these are spare parts.

    • Quartz oscillator

      The regulating organ in a quartz clock or watch.

    • Red diamond

      A rare fancy diamond that is quite valuable.

    • Secular Perpetual calendar

      Devised to incorporate the specificities of the Gregorian calendar. It is perpetual because it automatically adjusts to months with 30 days and to the 28 or 29 days in February. Unlike the...

    • Table

      The table is the large, flat facet area on the top of a cut gemstone.

    • Under-dial work

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

    • Vagues de Genève

      Synonym of Côtes de Genève. A decoration of undulating lines, like waves, frequently used to embellish superior quality movements.

    • Water-Resistant

      Describes a watch which, in theory, will not let in water at a depth of up to 3 atm or 30 metres. See Waterproof

    • 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!