Axle

A pivoted steel arbor on which the balance is mounted.

Bow lathe

The bow is a band of steel strung with a cord, generally gut, which drives the watchmaker's lathe.

Countdown timer

A device for counting backwards over a given interval.

Dead seconds

A hand that jumps forward when the second has elapsed. Breguet used the expression seconde d'un coup or "sudden second".Generally, the jump of a hand is a distinctive feature of a quartz...

Enamellist

A person who creates enamelwork.

Fracture

A break in a gemstone.

Grande complication

See complication.

Hunter

A watch whose case has a front and back cover.

Invar

Alloy of iron and nickel whose low coefficient of thermal expansion was discovered by Charles Edouard Guillaume. Invar (abbreviation of invariable) belongs to the Elinvar family of metals...

Jasper

An opaque, ornamental stone found in many colours, including white, brown, yellow, red, and green. It is often striped, speckled, and multi-coloured and is used in watch making as a dial. Jasper...

Karrusel

A device similar to the tourbillon, the difference being that the cage is driven by the third wheel. Invented by Bonnicksen, a Danish watchmaker established in London.See complication.

Luminescent

Having the property to emit light rays. In watchmaking, Tritium is the name given to a radioluminescent substance containing tritium. It was used to coat numerals, markers and hands so they could...

Mainspring winder

The tool used to wind the mainspring before inserting it in the barrel.

Nickel silver (German silver)

A silver-white alloy of copper, nickel and zinc developed in France circa 1820 by Maillot and Chorier from whom it takes its name.

Organic

Describes a substance produced by a living organism. Pearl, coral and shell are examples of organic substances used in jewellery.

Pin

An articulated metal catch that is inserted in a hole in the leather strap then secured by the buckle. The majority of belts fasten this way. A watch can be said to have a pin buckle.

Quartz oscillator

The regulating organ in a quartz clock or watch.

Repassage

The final and complete inspection of the watch with its mechanism and aesthetics, just before it leaves the manufacturer. Both rate and appearance are inspected.

Silent

A manually-operated means of silencing a striking mechanism equipped with this function.

Tapestry pattern

A pattern of repetitive motifs, similar to a tapestry. A die of this motif guides the movement of the tool on a specially-adapted rose engine.

Ultra-complicated watch

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...

Vermeil

Silver covered with a thin layer of gold.

Watchmaker's cabinet

A small chest of drawers for storing the watchmaker's tools and often part of the bench. A cabinet can also be a separate piece of furniture with any number of drawers for sorting and...

Year

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